Our verdict on the best Android phones - constantly updated
There's one key way in which Android is massively different from its Apple-branded smartphone competition - the number of phones out there running Google's hot mobile OS.
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? Or even stuck wondering: 'Actually, what IS Android?'
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. Sony Ericsson Xperia Mini
It is indeed very mini, but Sony Ericsson has performed a tech miracle in squeezing a capable 1GHz processor into its tiny chassis. The Xperia Mini runs Android 2.3, enhanced significantly by the company's user interface, which adds lots of style and extra functionality to Google's on-fire mobile OS.
The email app with its resizing preview pane is as sexy as an email app is ever likely to get, the jiggling app drawer edit screen (with the ability to delete apps right from the listing) is very nice, plus you get themes, a cool power off animation and much, much more.
The screen's responsive, text appears sharp, the camera capable of producing good stills and passable 720p video footage. It does it all in an impressively condensed package.
Quick verdict:
Small, and very nearly, perfectly formed. If you can live with seeing the world through a small-ish 3" screen, it's a great, highly usable smartphone.
9. Motorola Atrix
Another of 2011's dual-core phones. A huge 1930mAh battery makes this a bulkier handset than the likes of the Galaxy S II or Xperia Arc, but then again it's nice to have the reassurance of extra longevity. Motorola's Motoblur user interface won't be to everyone taste, visually speaking, but if you can live with the odd colour choices the numerous widgets offer good functionality - and many are resizable.
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. LG Optimus Black
Somehow the single-core Optimus Black manages to offer a smoother, less glitchy experience than the company's more powerful, dual-core Optimus 2X, also squeezing Android 2.2 into a super-skinny body a shade over 9mm thick.
The 480x800 resolution, 4" screen is the highlight, beaming out extra bright thanks to LG's NOVA technology and making text, web and images appear vibrant and sharp – even outdoors.
LG's custom user interface is a simple, swift option, that borrows and redesign's widget ideas from Samsung and HTC to good effect, plus there's an extra gesture input system that lets you use shakes and waves to control a few functions.
The latter is a weird novelty you're unlikely to use, but it helps the Optimus Black sell itself as something more unusual and innovative than most other black slab smartphones.
Quick verdict:
Just as glamorous as the top-spec phones by Samsung and HTC, with an excellent screen and enough power to keep it relevant for a year or two - plus a lower price too. Unlikely to be a huge seller, but one to keep an eye on if you want a super-slim alternative.
7. HTC ChaCha
We've been waiting a long time for a QWERTY Android phone to really hit the sweet spot - the ChaCha just about gets there. The white "Facebook phone" comes with a very workable physical keyboard, with chunky, well spaced, rubberised keys making it one of the most usable QWERTYs around outside of the BlackBerry world.
With Android 2.3.3 onboard, the ChaCha is about as up-to-date as you can get, plus HTC's smooth Sense interface has been nicely tweaked to fill a landscape display.
The 2.6" screen means the ChaCha won't be ideal for gamers and web use is a little limited – and further restricted by the phone not supporting Adobe's Flash Player - but for messaging addicts and Facebook fans that need a solid, physical keyboard, it's ideal.
Quick verdict:
The Facebook button is little more than a novelty shortcut to the standard Android Facebook app. What you're paying for here is a solid HTC phone with a great keyboard, while the small screen means big battery life.
6. Google Nexus S
The 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.
Your comments (47) Click to add a new comment
doddy
December 11th 2011
47. galaxy s2 is the best phone around i reli cant find a fault with mine its just awsome
it beats htc apple black berrys and iphones hands down trust me if your due upgrade get this phone
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sanganagouda
December 10th 2011
46. i like it, cool.
"27 May 2011 – Best Android Phone"
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incrediblevistas
September 23rd 2011
45. I have an HTC Incredible S and it has to be the best phone ever - fast internet, excellent sound eg on YouTube, excellent videos, and photos. I love my Incredible S, so much better than the HTC Desires. Although it does not have dual core it is still super fast x
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fatexo
September 13th 2011
44. how can desire S be on 4th and Incredible S on 5th..?? they should swap places of both
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system08
July 26th 2011
43. I'm looking into buying a smartphone and I've decided on Android. However I find it near impossible to chose one because newer ones are coming out at ridiculous rates. Any tips on whether to buy a cheaper older one, or to buy a brand spankin' new one at full price? Thanks!
http://goo.gl/xfFdb
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albedo
July 18th 2011
42. I have the HTC Sensation. I played about with the Galaxy S2, but prefer the Sensation. Build quality feels better, it's very fast, and the Sense overlay is just so slick and polished compaired to Samsungs Touchwiz.
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alainpaum
July 17th 2011
41. To be fair Samsung s2 and HTC sensation are the best in the ddual core. Units. But in the single core units I select the Google nexus s as the best then HTC incredible s and desire s then galaxy s
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fatexo
June 13th 2011
40. i myself have the Incredible S.
i wonder why desire S and arc is listed ahead of Inc S..
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jaidensmith01
June 3rd 2011
39. In my opinion HTC Incredible S and Samsung Galaxy S2 should be bought...both are good Android Phones!!
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wrongd0g
June 3rd 2011
38. All these phones are too big. The HTC Legend is my perfect phone. I just wish HTC would make a followup with a faster processor.
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olive86
June 3rd 2011
37. I'll still go for the Samsung Galaxy S 2 and then for S 3. I just love this phone.
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denney25
June 2nd 2011
36. Can you not see whats number 1 and 2
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tony_j
May 31st 2011
35. This review is well past its sell by date - isn't it about time you either removed it or included the recent notable additions - Galaxy S 2 and HTC Sensation?
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rotz
February 25th 2011
34. @milocarloslee I have had a desire Z for a few months now, I love it. I have not had a contract before but there was something that drew me to the Android platform and the HTC brand. Primarily, I wanted a phone with a keyboard, as I've never been keen on sole touch screens.
The main drawback with these smart phones, as you probably know, is battery life. I am pretty sure the desire Zs life will outshine the regular Desires. I am a moderate user and I can usually get a day and a half out of the phone before I 'have' to charge it, where my friend with a regular Desire has to charge everyday. Of course this isn't a problem if you can charge everyday or work alongside computers, but I like the reassurance that I can go straight out after work (for example) and not have to worry about having to recharge until the next day.
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milocarloslee
February 11th 2011
33. instead of arguing about which phone is better CAN SOMEONE help me to decide wheather to get the htc desire (not hd) or htc z
i really dont get why htc z is number 6 and hd desire is number 1 as the specs and new features on htc z seem alot better
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seikiochako
January 11th 2011
32. Which android phone has a good walkman , which is comparable to ipod inside iphone.
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pal1966
December 23rd 2010
31. Why are you still dismissing the Galaxy S as not having 2.2
its had it for over a month now
get with it!!!!!
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fies
December 15th 2010
30. Sorry? are you serious "Best Android phone for internet: Motorola Milestone XT720"!
You mean Htc Desire Hd is designed for internet browsing
3G:
Up to 14.4 Mbps download speed
Up to 5.76 Mbps upload speed
GPRS:
Up to 114 kbps downloading
EDGE:
Up to 560 kbps downloading
Wi-Fi®:
IEEE 802.11 b/g/n
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chocotun
November 7th 2010
29. Whats the best android smartphone for 11 /12 year olds
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