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20 best mobile phones in the world today

Updated: Top mobile phones compared: what phone is best for you?

January 27th | Tell us what you think [ 221 comments ]

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The Samsung Galaxy S2 still top of the pops?

What's the best mobile phone? Our verdict on the best smartphone / best phones - constantly updated

We've all got at least one mobile phone each, right? The trouble is, how do you decide which is the best one for you?

If you've read our list of the hottest pre-release new mobile phones and are still stumped, well, this is where we make it easy. Because here we have our continually-updated comparison of the top 20 best smartphones you can get in the UK.

The last update saw the Samsung Galaxy S2 nabbing the top spot - the combo of Android 2.3 and a beautiful screen in a tightly packaged body saw it head straight to the top of the pile.

But now Apple has finally brought out another version of the iPhone (see our iPhone 4S review) and the Nokia Lumia 800 suggests Windows Phone might have something to offer, so check out our list to discover the perfect phone for you.

If that still doesn't help, well, there's always our extensive mobile phone reviews pages as well - or check out our personally crafted smartphone buyer's guide:

And when you've decided what new phone to buy, why not cash in your old one with our phone recycling price comparison service?

Here are our rankings for the best mobile phones around, currently available in the UK.

 

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Your comments (221) Click to add a new comment

deewanapom


Saturday at 08:12 UTC

221. Surprised not to find Moto Defy/Defy+ in the list. Beside being one of the toughest smartphones and providing excellent battery, they have some good specs and also priced reasonably.

I own both Defy and Wildfire S so I checked what Techradar mentioned in their reviews.

Surprisingly despite packing a 2GB internal memory, Techradar complained about that, however for Wildfire S there was no such complain for its 512mb internal storage! Sounds the reviews aren't objective enough.

Galaxy Ace has less than 200mb of ram and all three are in the same price range.

Any particular reason to ignore the Defy/Defy+? Just to mention Defy is not in 2.1 nemore.

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garethtbeavis


January 31st

220. Thanks Surya! Updated :)

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surya


January 29th

219. Weird how they still have the HTC sensation's picture despite it being the sensation XE. Many wouldn't notice but techradar itself revealing that the XE has red accents made it obvious

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george.eisikovits


January 28th

218. In the past 6 months I've had the Galaxy S2, the Galaxy Nexus, HTC Sensation, HTC Sensation XE and HTC Sensation XL.

Even though specwise the Sensation XL is the least powerful it managed to outperform all the others overall. Sense 3.5 is great and very smooth compared with Sensation and Sensation XE. Sense is much more user friendly compared to vanilla ICS and T.WIZ4. Regarding battery life the SXL laughs at its opponents since I managed to squeeze a 3 day use on a single charge. The Nexus barely made it through 8 hrs with normal use. The screen is better compared to its Sensation brothers and is a lot brighter than what i've seen on the Sammys. Specwise its a lot worse but it doesnt quite show that yet. Quadrant displayed a hefty 2115 points making it middle ranged in the powerful smartphone section. For now the XL has offer the most out of the phones I mentioned earlier and I recommend it!

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bobsm


January 28th

217. How can you describe the Galaxy Note as "even better" than the S2, and then slot it in at # 13? Makes no sense.

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aloner


January 28th

216. The RAZR below the Lumia 800 or the Desire S???. The Sensation XE number 3???

Clearly your criteria is not objective. Trying to keep someone happy??

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mtv2009


January 27th

215. Can't wait for the iphone 5 to be released.

It will deliver a heafty kick to the **** of every other phone out there.

All the Samsung boys will be crying into their plastic appleclone phones!

There...thats the bait thrown into the lake,now to wait for a bite;)

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mtv2009


January 27th

214. @kermit don't be a numbnuts.

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roz


January 27th

213. well the samsung galaxy s2 has my top vote and also the new samsung galaxy note. best phone out there streets ahead of apple. even wozniak of apple said the same and he owns an apple 4s and galaxy phone!

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dhp190123


January 27th

212. Before this list got updated the hTC Sensation was at No3 above the Sony Arc, but now its not on the list at all???? does that mean all of a sudden its not a good phone???? you have the Iphone 4s & the Iphone 4 in the list but not the Sensations!!! this list is a load of ****!

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djingonthenet


January 25th

211. Where's the Nokia Communicator 9210i? You could probably still get that on contract the last time this list was updated!

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kermit


January 25th

210. mtvboy

didn't you just moan about whiny little fanboys

ya whiny little fanboy

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mtv2009


January 14th

209. @bertmans well its your own fault for not doing your research before jumping from android to apple then isnt it.

Everyone knows that the iphone isnt that customisable and android is.

Also you didnt know you needed a credit card to use the app store...give me a break!!

I dont think you swapped at all i think you just wanted to ***** about apple like most people.

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viper16


January 4th

208. Samsung GS2 is unstoppable for now.

if GS3 comes out with tegra 3...apple might as well abandon ship lol

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viper16


January 4th

207. what iphone iphone iphone.....Android has beaten it to an inch of its life....all its got is its retina display(BEATEN) and siri(We got iris ready in 8 hours) and its so called original design which is shamelessly copied of the lg parada....

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joshnumba1


December 16th 2011

206. this list is so wrong. it actually annoys me how amny mistakes they've made. a blackberry above an iphone? im a apple hater but its still better than bb. and why no galaxy nexus, galaxy note, droid razr, sensation xl and xe. the top of the website says updated 16 minutes ago. really? i dont think so. fix it

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bobsm


December 12th 2011

205. Um, when will the list be updated to include the Galaxy Note? Enquiring minds need a Christmas present.

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harsh_bb


December 12th 2011

204. I am shocked to see blackberry bold 9900 on 7th. i own one and not very much pleased with the performance. though its the best blackberry ever. iphone 4 deserves a better place than bb bold 9900.

there is also no new bb torch 2 in the list. bb are good for chatting and connectivity but not for apps. RIM should improve its bb app world so as to be comparable with android market and istore.

definitely doesn't deserve a 7th rank. i regret buying a bb bold 9900 instead of iphone 4 or galaxy s2

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wdorey


December 1st 2011

203. No Lumia 800?

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