This may have been true a few years ago with Android handsets generally being underpowered, but the hardware caught up a while ago already.
I'm pretty sure the lag when task switching is due to insufficient RAM, not being underpowered. I'm still on a 3 year old Galaxy S (single core, 512 MB). If I use the carrier-provided Android 2.3 it's pretty snappy and only lags if I force it to task switch while it's busy processing something else.
But I've loaded Jelly Bean on it to get some of the newer Android features. With a clean install it's still snappy. But it starts to lag after I've loaded just a few apps. In order to keep it responsive, I've actually had to ditch most of the 200+ apps I originally had in 2.3. When I check system memory, about 450 MB is in use after it boots. A good chunk of that is "default" Google stuff that I need, like the Play store, gmail, account manager. I'm saving a good chunk by refusing to install Hangouts (I uninstalled Google+, but for some reason Hangouts keeps wanting to install).
(And before you ask why I don't upgrade, I'm still trying to find a decent water resistant phone which works with polarized glasses. The S4 Active seems to work, but alas it's an AT&T exclusive.)
Check out the Sony Xperia Z ( http://www.sonymobile.com/global-en/products/phones/xperia-z/ ) Its quite durable and water resistant. I'm getting it for my fiance. We have a toddler that sometimes hides her phone. Eventually he'll get it wet. The specs are great and the reviews are decent.
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I'm pretty sure the lag when task switching is due to insufficient RAM, not being underpowered. I'm still on a 3 year old Galaxy S (single core, 512 MB). If I use the carrier-provided Android 2.3 it's pretty snappy and only lags if I force it to task switch while it's busy processing something else. But I've loaded Jelly Bean on it to get some of the newer Android features. With a clean install it's still snappy. But it starts to lag after I've loaded just a few apps. In order to keep it responsive, I've actually had to ditch most of the 200+ apps I originally had in 2.3. When I check system memory, about 450 MB is in use after it boots. A good chunk of that is "default" Google stuff that I need, like the Play store, gmail, account manager. I'm saving a good chunk by refusing to install Hangouts (I uninstalled Google+, but for some reason Hangouts keeps wanting to install). (And before you ask why I don't upgrade, I'm still trying to find a decent water resistant phone which works with polarized glasses. The S4 Active seems to work, but alas it's an AT&T exclusive.)
Check out the Sony Xperia Z ( http://www.sonymobile.com/global-en/products/phones/xperia-z/ ) Its quite durable and water resistant. I'm getting it for my fiance. We have a toddler that sometimes hides her phone. Eventually he'll get it wet. The specs are great and the reviews are decent.