Top Best mobile phones in the world today
Top Best mobile phones in the world today
1. HTC One
Well, here’s something of a shock if you’re a Samsung fan – after nearly two years of dominance, the Korean brand has fallen from the top spot.
It’s nothing to do with the quality of the S4 – an outstanding phone in anyone’s book – but more the fact HTC has managed to bring out a smartphone that’s worthy of any user’s consideration.
The supreme aluminium chassis, the Full HD screen and the simplified version of Sense 5.0 sitting on top of Android Jelly Bean means it’s a pleasure to use and recommend this handset.
The new innovations are also pleasingly more than just marketing gimmicks; Zoe functionality allows the creation of delightful video highlight reels, and the Ultrapixel camera means you’ve got a much wider range of shots available thanks to being stunning in low light.
The only reason this isn’t a five star phone is the slightly off-key battery, which can leak juice if you’re power-creating videos or watching reams of video, but for day to day use it will be acceptable for most. We’ve also got high hopes a recent software update could have solved this little conundrum as well, meaning you could see another five star phone enter the fray shortly.
2. Samsung Galaxy S4
All change at the top! Samsung managed to hold off HTC at the top in 2012, but this year the supreme stylings of the HTC One proved too strong against a phone that’s a slightly-better-version of its predecessor.
Well, that’s not really fair – it’s only in looks that it’s too similar, and sadly that was one of the biggest issues most users had with the S3. It’s not the world’s biggest smartphone crime, but it’s enough to keep it from the top spot
There’s a lot, a lot, to love with the Samsung Galaxy S4 though: whether it’s a powerful camera, a brilliant screen, a long-lasting battery or just a fluid experience, there’s everything you could want in a smartphone right here.
The cost is a tad higher than on other smartphones, but thankfully still cheaper than iPhone level. If only it was made out of something a little more premium…
3. Sony Xperia Z<!–[if mso & !supportInlineShapes & supportFields]> SHAPE * MERGEFORMAT <![endif]–><!–[if mso & !supportInlineShapes & supportFields]> <![endif]–>
Sony’s new handset is most definitely the most impressive the firm has launched either in its current guise or as Sony Ericsson. The latest handset should always be the best, obviously, but the Xperia Z is a real, real step forward.
You can see the Sony influence throughout the handset as it oozes quality and build from the large screen, which fits close to the edges of the bezel, to the intelligent camera that allows you to snap some really premium photos without needing to fiddle about with the settings.
And it’s water and dust resistant too, which makes it excellent for general life business. There’s a certain freedom that comes from knowing that the heart-stopping moment of your phone falling in a pint of beer is gone for good.
It’s also packing a microSD card slot in an impossibly thin chassis, for which we laud the phone even higher. Add to that the Bravia Engine 2, which can upscale standard definition movies and bring your content to life, and you’ve got a real matchwinning phone in your hands.
There will be an outcry from many that wonder how it’s managed to climb above the iPhone – we deliberated for a long time between the two, but the fact is that spec for spec, the Xperia Z beats the iPhone 5 down.
It’s not all about the numbers though, which is why the fact the Xperia Z uses those specs so well – a crisper video experience, a more powerful camera, being waterproof, expandable memory – gives it the boost it needed to enter the top three.
4. iPhone 5
Did you see this one coming? The iPhone 5 now behind three other Android phones in our rankings? Some think it should be higher, some think lower – it depends on your level of Apple love.
Never has a company polarised opinion in the smartphone world like Apple – and with the iPhone 5, so many are quick to decry it while others know it to be the smartphone they’ve been waiting for.
And let’s make no bones about it: this is a stunning phone, with a gorgeous two-tone finish, a high-res screen that’s been extended to four inches and an efficient yet powerful core
.The iOS 6 update is a good one, and while some feel it to be ageing slightly, many see it as doing exactly what they want… and given Apple has built it smartphone reputation on simplicity, this makes sense.
However, it’s not all cookies and cream for Apple, as it’s ditched the Google Maps app for something that’s not as slick or well-stocked in its own Maps app, which had some issues at birth. However, it’s certainly picked up more recently, and you can just download Google Maps anyway if you don’t want to take the risk.
The main problem we have with this phone, spec list aside, is the fact the iPhone 5 is STILL very expensive… we’re not sure how such sky high prices can be charged when equivalent smartphones are available on the market.
5. Google Nexus 4<!–[if mso & !supportInlineShapes & supportFields]> SHAPE * MERGEFORMAT <![endif]–><!–[if mso & !supportInlineShapes & supportFields]> <![endif]–>
Google and LG have worked together to bring to market a fantastic offering, one that even Apple fans can’t help but coo over when they hear the price.
The fact of the matter is that this is a handset with world class specs – yet it’s at a cost you’d expect to get a budget phone for. Sure, there are a few things that could have been done better, but the positives definitely outweigh the negatives.
The Nexus 4 is beautifully designed with a stunning display and rocking the latest version of Android. It has more connectivity than a telephone exchange and even excels in the simple matter of making calls.
We’re not fans of the lower memory allowance, and it’s not got the best screen on the market, and there will be a few that see stock Android 4.2 as too stripped-down to consider it a valid phone OS choice; more a platform for the big hitters to build on.
But that doesn’t mean it’s not a fantastic handset – it would have competed even without the insanely low price tag.
6. Samsung Galaxy Note 2
Many (including us, we admit) were not convinced when the original Samsung Galaxy Note launched. Who on earth would want something so big to make their calls and surf the internet, even with a glorified stylus? Cue awkward silence.
Millions of you, it would appear. The Galaxy Note sold by the bucketload, so how do you follow that up? With something better, of course – the Samsung Galaxy Note 2.
Faster, stronger, better looking, and more functional, the Galaxy Note 2 is better connected than ever, and thanks to that increased screen size (up to an eye-bulging 5.5-inches), is, among many things, a quality media player.
Samsung has achieved something special here, because it has made the Galaxy Note 2 bigger than the original, but pulls it off so that you don’t notice it too much and anyway, it’s the features that make it so amazing.
Air View, Multi-window, a dock that can turn it into a fully-fledged computer – it’s all here, people, and while the Galaxy S4 builds on top of it nicely, for the larger-screened range this is the king.
7. Samsung Galaxy S3
With the Samsung Galaxy S4 now launched, the S3 has predictably fallen down the rankings thanks to there being a better phone to recommend.
But don’t worry: the S3 is still a wondrous phone: it’s got every kind of feature we could ask for and more, and raised the bar once again in terms of what consumers should be expecting in terms of battery life, processor speed and media management.
Would we recommend you buy one if you’re hankering for a spot of Samsung? Yes, but only if you’re trying to save money, as the S4 is a much better version of this phone indeed.
Price isn’t the only reason the Samsung Galaxy S3 is worthy of consideration though. Smart Stay, Super AMOLED HD screen, up to 128GB storage, Music Hub, removable battery, quick camera… we’re getting tired listing all the great things it does.
The design didn’t impress us as much as when we first laid eyes on the S2, but that’s the only big issue we could find – and it’s proven popular enough for MILLIONS of you to have bought it thus far, showing that it’s still a cutting edge smartphone for some.
With Android 4.2 on the way as well, there’s still life in this once-leading phone – just make sure you check out the S4 first.
8. Nokia Lumia 520<!–[if mso & !supportInlineShapes & supportFields]> SHAPE * MERGEFORMAT <![endif]–><!–[if mso & !supportInlineShapes & supportFields]> <![endif]–>
The Nokia Lumia 520, much like its big brother the Nokia Lumia 620, is a jack of all trades and a master of none – although it really manages to make a good fist of everything it tries, for the price.
It looks good, it’s got a decent screen both in terms of size and resolution, it rarely stutters or slows down, it’s great for calls and messaging, reasonable for media and okay for photos.
To achieve a lower price point the 520 has had to strip away a few things – there’s no NFC, compass, camera flash or front facing camera here.
But on the other hand it’s also got a bigger screen, a larger battery, a sleeker, slimmer, lighter build and the same processor and RAM as the Nokia Lumia 620, so in many ways it’s actually better.
Combine that with a lower price tag and we reckon that this just might be the best entry level Windows Phone 8 handset that you can buy and certainly the best value.
9. HTC One S
There are few phones we play with where we think that we have the complete package and would happily give five stars. The HTC One S would have had five stars had it not been for the 16GB memory cap and non-HD screen.
Of course, it’s getting on a bit in smartphone terms now, but it goes ahead of the HTC One X+ thanks to a) a lower price, b) a new Jelly Bean update and a design that we think betters even the HTC One. It’s micro-arc oxidisation, and we challenge you to find one person who owns this phone who doesn’t love the feel of the back.
Of course, it’s getting on a bit in smartphone terms now, but it goes ahead of the HTC One X+ thanks to a) a lower price, b) a new Jelly Bean update and a design that we think betters even the HTC One. It’s micro-arc oxidisation, and we challenge you to find one person who owns this phone who doesn’t love the feel of the back.
It’s not got a superbly high resolution screen, the internal memory isn’t good enough for many and it probably won’t go above Jelly Bean in terms of software.
But let’s not get caught up with negativity here: if you’re not bothered about a massive memory (which most people aren’t), you probably can’t do much better now for a mid-range phone. The HTC One S is a beautiful handset blessed with beautiful capabilities and is available at very palatable price points.
10. Nokia Lumia 920
What’s better than a top Windows Phone 7 handset? A Windows Phone 8 one, and we’ve got no qualms about telling you this is the best Windows Phone out there.
Simplicity is the key here, the Lumia 920 does the basics well, from contact integration and calling, to web browsing and messaging. The camera is market-leading, and offers excellent performance from low-light to jumpy videos.
The 8MP camera on the back of the Lumia 920 is actually one of the best we’ve used, and for anyone looking to get a top end cameraphone: you need to seriously consider this Nokia, although the HTC One is encroaching on its territory.The 4.5-inch display is also a good’un, crisp and clear it makes watching movies, surfing the web or Facebook stalking an enjoyable experience, thanks to the PureMotion HD technology on offer.
And you can even use it with gloves on… what more could you want? You’re right: hologram messages. But they don’t exist yet.
Simplicity is the key here, the Lumia 920 does the basics well, from contact integration and calling, to web browsing and messaging. The camera is market-leading, and offers excellent performance from low-light to jumpy videos.
The 8MP camera on the back of the Lumia 920 is actually one of the best we’ve used, and for anyone looking to get a top end cameraphone: you need to seriously consider this Nokia, although the HTC One is encroaching on its territory.The 4.5-inch display is also a good’un, crisp and clear it makes watching movies, surfing the web or Facebook stalking an enjoyable experience, thanks to the PureMotion HD technology on offer.
And you can even use it with gloves on… what more could you want? You’re right: hologram messages. But they don’t exist yet.
11. LG Optimus 4X HD
If it hadn’t been for the Galaxy S3 and the HTC One X, there is no doubt about it – the LG Optimus 4X HD would be one of the best phones out there, once upon a time. Its specs are fantastic.
The trouble is, LG has released this handset just too late, which means it doesn’t offer anything mind-blowing or really that alternative.
The trouble is, LG has released this handset just too late, which means it doesn’t offer anything mind-blowing or really that alternative.
However, it’s a media powerhouse, has sleek lines and has power in spades – plus a better battery than the One X, with the same chipset.
In summary, we do recommend it – it’s a cracking piece of kit. And if you can get it on a good deal (of which there are many right now), we say ‘go for it’, but there’s no real reason to pick this over a Samsung Galaxy SIII, an HTC One X or even a One S, with the last option impressing hugely on the design front.
12. BlackBerry Z10
BlackBerry is back – there’s no doubt about that after the huge launch of the BlackBerry Z10 and it’s new BB10 operating system. The lateness of said launch caused some to question the relevance of the phones, but there’s no doubt it’s still a phone that ticks a lot of boxes.
The BlackBerry Z10’s Peek function, interesting camera features and ability to offer you a work and life balance, which will appeal to a lot of people who struggle to carry around two handsets when the office won’t let you bring the iPhone in.
The Z10 has a quality finish as well as a clever interface, and the expandable storage, removable battery and Adobe Flash support are all small wins for the Z10 and will help as it tries to stand out in a crowded market.
13. HTC One X+
The HTC One X was an odd handset – not in the design (lovely) or the features (top-end) – but that it’s seen as a ‘renaissance’ phone for the firm, despite its success in such a short time.
It took that design, threw out the bits that don’t work and had another go… while adding a ‘+’ on the end to show it’s all new and shiny.
It’s addressed storage concerns and improved web browser efficiency and the always reliable HTC keyboard – although the battery is still a bit of a sore point.
Obviously now the HTC One has popped up, this phone is much less relevant than it once was… but camera and design aside it’s not a million miles away from the impressive force of the One.
The beefed up processor along with the Android 4.1 and Sense 4+ UI updates makes the One X+ an even slicker, smoother and more powerful customer than its older brother.
The already excellent HTC keyboard has once again been given further improvements making it even better and for the first time we didn’t feel the need to download an alternative from Google Play – kudos HTC – and LOOK! It comes in red and black with 64GB of storage.
14. Sony Xperia T
The Sony Xperia T took over from the Sony Xperia S as the Japanese company’s new flagship device, but borrows the design found on the popular, but now aging Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc and Arc S.
Now the Xperia Z has emerged as the first ‘true’ Sony phone, there’s no doubt this handset’s time in the sun is setting, but as 007’s phone of choice it still one to check out, thanks to sweet design and innards.
It runs Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich and is powered by a 1.5GHz dual-core processor, with a 4.6-inch display boasting Sony’s Bravia TV technology and on the back of the handset you’ll find the 13MP camera – one of this phone’s best features.
15. Samsung Galaxy S2
This former number one phone in the world continues to slide down the rankings, despite still being a decent piece of hardware. That’s not to take anything away from a cracking phone that is getting to a really low price these days, but it’s nothing compared to its successor (and subsequent sequel).
Make no mistake – this is still a great phone, thanks to the Ice Cream Sandwich update, and the design has moved from cool to iconic pretty quickly. On top of that the Jelly Bean update is rolling out apace for this ageing phone, which means for the money you can buy it for, it’s still a decent choice.
Don’t go for a two year contract though – you could end up using a phone that’s nearing hald-a-decade old.
What we love about the Samsung Galaxy S II is the sheer amount of stuff that’s packed in under the chassis – but more important is the way Samsung has used all that tech to create a phone that just works near-flawlessly.
Make no mistake – this is still a great phone, thanks to the Ice Cream Sandwich update, and the design has moved from cool to iconic pretty quickly. On top of that the Jelly Bean update is rolling out apace for this ageing phone, which means for the money you can buy it for, it’s still a decent choice.
Don’t go for a two year contract though – you could end up using a phone that’s nearing hald-a-decade old.
What we love about the Samsung Galaxy S II is the sheer amount of stuff that’s packed in under the chassis – but more important is the way Samsung has used all that tech to create a phone that just works near-flawlessly.
The dual-core 1.2GHz processor, the Super AMOLED plus screen and the excellent sonic performance of the media player are still good enough for use, if you’re not bothered about bleeding-edge speed.
Recording in 1080p is a nice touch (given that it actually works most of the time) and the camera is more than enough to take great shots in a short space of time – although we suggest you check out the phones higher in this list for more powerful snappers.
In short, be it internet browsing, navigation, media, or social networking- the Samsung Galaxy S2 is still more than good enough for all those functions in one phone.
16. Motorola Razr i
Motorola’s done a good job with the Razr i. It’s taken a line that refuses to die quietly, injected it with a little bit of pizzaz and thrown it right out there for all and sundry.
The fact that you can expand the storage by up to 64GB makes this an attractive option. And it’s an easy phone to use without too much customisation to confuse Android newbies. Plus, it works well as a phone, with good signal, and provides you with a top notch, fast internet service.
And let’s not forget about that screen: with the edge to edge display, it really pops and fizzes in the palm, with the Super AMOLED display impressing.
The fact that you can expand the storage by up to 64GB makes this an attractive option. And it’s an easy phone to use without too much customisation to confuse Android newbies. Plus, it works well as a phone, with good signal, and provides you with a top notch, fast internet service.
And let’s not forget about that screen: with the edge to edge display, it really pops and fizzes in the palm, with the Super AMOLED display impressing.
17. Sony Xperia S
We used to love the Xperia Arc S – but we’re a fickle bunch, and now Ericsson has been cast aside, we’re all over the new brand like a cat on a fresh set of curtains.
The Xperia S almost has too many positive points to list, with a HD screen, 12MP camera and dual-core processor all combining to make one of the finest smartphones of 2012.
The Xperia S almost has too many positive points to list, with a HD screen, 12MP camera and dual-core processor all combining to make one of the finest smartphones of 2012.
18. Motorola Razr HD
Motorola might not be anywhere near the sharp end of the smartphone market these days (or, indeed, ever) but it still makes a half-decent fist of a mid-range smartphone.
While this phone lacks in some areas (let’s be honest: a dual core processor doesn’t get anyone’s heart racing any more, despite being able to handle most tasks you can throw at it) it still has a clear screen, a simple OS and a really strong battery at its heart.
While this phone lacks in some areas (let’s be honest: a dual core processor doesn’t get anyone’s heart racing any more, despite being able to handle most tasks you can throw at it) it still has a clear screen, a simple OS and a really strong battery at its heart.
19. Samsung Ativ S
Thanks to an excellent build, good specs, beefy storage and an open body design, the Ativ S is an excellent WP8 option.
While Windows Phone 8 is definitely wanting in the app department, it’s still a rich enough eco-system for many, and the sleek lines of the Ativ S remind us nicely of other high-end Samsung phones.
Samsung has really one-upped the competition by including a removable battery, and more importantly, microSD storage. One of our biggest complaints with the HTC 8X was its paltry 16GB of space and lack of removable storage.
While Windows Phone 8 is definitely wanting in the app department, it’s still a rich enough eco-system for many, and the sleek lines of the Ativ S remind us nicely of other high-end Samsung phones.
Samsung has really one-upped the competition by including a removable battery, and more importantly, microSD storage. One of our biggest complaints with the HTC 8X was its paltry 16GB of space and lack of removable storage.
20. Huawei Ascend G330
The Ascend G330 is a solid performer. It’s smooth in use, has the power to run even the most demanding apps very well, and although not hugely exciting to look at and hold, the display’s clear and bright enough to elevate it above some of the tattier budget models.
And it’s definitely more capable than the old Ascend G300, with hardly any glitches when downloading/updating apps and navigating the phone at the same time.
It delivers a great smartphone experience for the money with hardly any obvious compromises.
It delivers a great smartphone experience for the money with hardly any obvious compromises.