Our verdict on the best Android phones - constantly updated
It's a great time to buy an Android phone. Competition is at a fever pitch, with the HTC One and the Galaxy S4 duking it out for the right to be called the best Android phone - or the best selling Android phone, at least.
As a quick primer, Android is Google's mobile operating system, its answer to Apple's iOS which powers the iPhone. Android really came into its own back in 2011, with Android 4.0: Ice Cream Sandwich. The most current version is now, Android 4.2: Jelly Bean.
Yes, Google names its mobile software after desserts, and no, the software on every Android phone is not created equal; you'll also encounter software put there by manufacturers and service providers.
So if you're a tad confused, fear not. Our list of the best Android phones is here to help you navigate the somewhat splintered world of Android to find the perfect device for you.
It may seem like a two horse race between HTC and Samsung, but there are plenty of great devices running Google's mobile OS. So sit back and start scrolling, let's find the best Android phone for you.
10. LG Optimus G
We quite like the Optimus G. The specs are tremendous, and it manages to have a big display, quad-core processor and 4G LTE without terrible battery life.
However, the phone falls short of greatness due to a somewhat dated OS and carrier bloatware. We're glad to know that Jelly Bean is on the way, but having it out of the box would have been fantastic. On both the Sprint and AT&T versions the amount of carrier software that can't be uninstalled is egregious.
9. HTC One X+
The HTC One X+ is an excellent smartphone excelling in a number of areas and it's definitely worth its place among the great and the good of the mobile world.
It builds on a number of issues which arose with the original HTC One X, addressing storage concerns and improving web browser efficiency and the always reliable HTC keyboard - however the battery is still a bit of a sore point.
We urge you to give it a whirl in store, and while it may not have the fancy tricks of the Galaxy S3, or the cult following of the iPhone 5, it's happily rubbing shoulders with the big boys.
8. HTC Droid DNA
The Droid DNA is a very good, very big phone exclusive to Verizon. Its hardware is the definition of consistency, giving snappy load times and overall excellent performance.
The battery was merely ok, which is not surprising on a 4G LTE phone with a humongous screen, but better than other HTC devices like the One X+. Still, if you go easy on the media streaming, the DNA will get you through the day just fine.
A few flaws aside, the Droid DNA by HTC is one of the best deals. You can't get more performance for $199 than with the DNA - for now, at least.
7. HTC First
The HTC First, the so-called Facebook phone, isn't really the ultimate device for sharing on the world's premier social network. Instead, it's a not at all bad mid-range device, blessed with a stock version of Android 4.1: Jelly Bean and LTE service from AT&T.
Still, it's hard to recommend that your average user buy a device and disable its primary selling point, in this case Facebook Home.
In spite of that, we like that it's compact, durable and has great LTE service from AT&T. It could become the next cult Android device, and might even be the last decent dual-core handset that ever gets made. Sans Facebook Home, it's exactly the type of device we wish we'd see more often.
6. LG Nexus 4
Google and LG have worked together to bring to market a fantastic offering. Essentially, this is a handset with world class specs – yet it's at a price 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. Had it not been crippled by silly things like a paltry memory allowance and not-quite-there camera, we'd have recommended it immediately and given it a five star rating. But make no mistake – this is the best Nexus handset so far by a long shot.
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