Which is the best Android phone for you? We've got the answers.
Samsung makes loads of them. Sony Ericsson makes a few. Then you've got Android-powered phones from Acer, LG, Huawei and many others, while HTC releases more in a month than all the rest added together manage in a year.
The many variations in screen size, processor power, software features and design makes finding the best Android phone for you extremely tough.
Do you physically and emotionally need a QWERTY keyboard? Are you the sort of oddball who prefers the rough pressing needed to make resistive touchscreens work? Are you struggling to work out which are the best Android Widgets?
To help find the best Android phone for you, we've rounded up the ten best Android handsets out there today, rating the phones on hardware performance, OS upgrade potential and, of course, how shiny and nice they are to have and boast about to work colleagues.
So here they are - the ten best Android phones money can buy today. For many, many different reasons.
10. Orange San FranciscoThis one defies all logic. You can currently pick up the Orange San Francisco for £79 on a SIM-free basis, which means it costs around one quarter the price of some of today's top-spec Android phones.
But what you get here is no cost-cutting budget phone. The San Fran has a high-res 3.5" capacitive touchscreen, features Android 2.1, does a relatively good job of copying the high-end sleek designs of HTC and quite simply works way, way better than anything else at this entry level price point.
Quick verdict:
Get one as a spare, or just to use at home on Wi-Fi. A stunning amount of kit for an impulse-level purchase price. Sadly it looks like this won't receive an official update to 2.2 or 2.3 over here, which is rather a shame.
9. Motorola Atrix
Elsewhere you get a snappy 5 MP camera that produces acceptable results and records 720p video, a front-facing camera for video chat, fingerprint recognition and DLNA support for streaming media.
Motorola's crazy "Lapdock" accessory turns the Atrix into something resembling a netbook, but Android isn't ideal for working with and editing documents, so it's not a killer feature. Weird laptop aspirations aside, Atrix is a comprehensive and versatile device.
Quick verdict:
Big and powerful, the Atrix is fast to use with a very sharp 4" screen. Arriving with Android 2.2 onboard is a bit of a faux pas as far as enthusiasts are concerned, though.
8. Samsung Galaxy SA bit like owning a fancy imported sports car, this. The screen on the Galaxy S is among the finest out there today, high-res and dazzlingly sharp and bright.
The problems come from Samsung's fiddlings with Android itself. While many of the TouchWiz user interface tweaks on the Galaxy S are welcome, they come at a price - the phone can be a little glitchy in operation, with quite a few annoying bugs and mini lock-ups.
Happily, Samsug is in the process of rolling out Android 2.3 to existing Galaxy S users, making it a phone that's still relevant and worth investing in today.
Quick verdict
A lot of phone for the money, but the lack of camera flash, a few OS glitches and Samsung's notoriously relaxed attitude to pushing out software updates just stop this from being the perfect handset.
7. HTC Desire
This is for two reasons - HTC released a superb piece of hardware that obliterated the competition at the time, and has also managed to get Android 2.2 onto nearly every version of the phone out there - plus an Android 2.3 update will be here by the summer, too.
While users of other, newer phones fuss about with internet petitions in order to get their OSs upgraded, the older Desire remains cutting-edge.
A great screen, flawless in operation and powerful enough to stay relevant until the end of even the longest mobile phone contract.
Quick verdict:
The Desire HD may offer a bigger screen and the Desire Z a physical keyboard, but the standard old Desire is still a stunning performer today. You won't be ashamed to own one of these at the end of your next 24 month contract.
6. Google Nexus SThe first Android 2.3 phone is also one of the first with NFC capabilities and a curved Super AMOLED screen from Samsung. The build quality might feel a little suspect at first, but is robust enough and sits in the hand well, and that screen is just superb for the internet and media.
Quick verdict
A 'no frills' handset that delivers on the specs - an affordable and practical phone for the developer and 'Pure Google' lover alike.
5. HTC Incredible S
Yet another solid 2011 Android phone from HTC. The Incredible S comes with a 4" Super LCD screen, making it resemble the Desire S' larger brother. As well as the screen size boost there's a more impressive camera, with the 8 MP sensor and LED flash doing a good job of improving HTC's rather poor reputation in the camera area.
You also get a front-facing 1.3 MP second camera for the novelty that is video chat, plus a larger-than-usual 1450mAh battery keeps it lasting longer than 2010's HTC Desire HD, too.
Quick verdict:
Feels like all the other HTC phones – rock solid, smooth in operation and with a better camera than HTC usually manages.
4. HTC Desire SThis time last year the HTC Desire was the cutting-edge "superphone" of choice, now its enhanced sequel is an affordable mid-range option.
That's how fast things move in the Android world. But don't dismiss the Desire S because of its workmanlike approach. What you get here is a solid phone with a great 3.7" screen, powered by Android 2.3 and HTC's updated Sense 2.1 user interface. The result is a very slick and smooth experience.
The camera is sadly a weak point, though, offering the same blotchy 5 MP output as the original Desire. But apart from that, everything here's a little better than in last year's Desire. Which makes this a fantastic smartphone and a great entry to Android.
Quick verdict:
A superb update of the HTC Desire. Slightly smaller and a little faster, it's a perfect gradual evolution of 2010's smash. Available on some very cheap contracts, too.
3. Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc
It's not dual-core, but it all moves very well indeed, with Sony Ericsson's user interface additions giving the Arc a stylish feel in use, too. The 4.2" BRAVIA Engine "Reality Display" is bright and colourful, with text sharp and well defined thanks to the high 854x480 resolution.
The 8 MP camera produces great stills, with 720p video looking good despite the occasional glitch when recording. The Arc is simply a lovely, well designed thing to have and enjoy, that shows both Android and Sony Ericsson's phone-making skills in a great light.
Quick verdict:
Unbelievably thin and stylish, with internal bits that keep everything running fast and reliably. Good camera with HD video - it's a fantastic package.
2. HTC SensationThe HTC Sensation is the Taiwanese brand's first attempt at a dual-core device and it's been a pretty big success so far.
With a 4.3-inch qHD screen and the latest version of Sense coming on board makes it a really zippy and clear experience, and the addition of HTC Watch brings movie streaming and purchase to your handset.It's a well-built and solid device, and the 8MP camera can record in sparkling 1080p too - it might not be the top Android handset, but it's very, very close.
Quick verdict
We think the Samsung Galaxy S2 is a slightly better proposition overall, thanks to better screen technology and a slimmer chassis. But for the HTC fans out there, the Sensation is definitely the new alpha handset on the block.
1. Samsung Galaxy S2
You won't believe how thin and light it is. Then you won't believe how fast it is. The Galaxy S II offers a genuinely exciting experience, managing to eclipse all other Android phones in every field. Apps install ridiculously quickly, while browsing web pages is so fast it's hard to believe you're looking at a telephone screen. The large display is robust and, despite the slim and lightweight case, build quality manages to impress.
You get the latest Android 2.3.3 onboard, while many of Samsung's Touchwiz widgets are resizable, making it a phone that's fun to customise and spend time playing with. This is Android made fast and thrilling.
Quick verdict:
The first of 2011's dual-core Android phones to offer an experience that feels significantly ahead of the competition. Incredibly fast in all areas, with a super screen and very useful camera - it's Android taken to the next level.
