The age of the Ice Cream Sandwich will start drawing to a close in the coming months and fast approaching is the dawn of the Jelly Bean, a perfect time for us to refresh our 10 best Android phones list. Which phone donned with Google’s operating system would we recommend above all others right now? Which do we reckon will keep you future proofed in light impending Jelly Bean and where do we reckon we’d put the Samsung Galaxy S3 in our top ten after having spent a few hours with it?
1. HTC One S - “A perfect balance”
There’s seldom a phone which checks so many boxes across the board as the HTC One S. Good to great, the phone has no major shortcomings. In fact, it’s a category leader in terms of design, being impossibly thin at 7.8, available in a black variant that looks and feels incredible.
Performance wise, the HTC One S is also snappy with its dual-core S4 processor powering Android 4.0 and HTC’s Sense. The 8-megapixel camera sports a category leading f/2 lens and we can attest to the photo quality.
Battery life is also very impressive, and with everything on board bar NFC, the One S strikes the perfect balance between style and spec. Couple that with HTC's great track record for updating their Android version and we can confidently recommend it for anyone in the game for a smart, powerful mobile.
2. HTC One X - “Best screen and snapper”
HTC’s flagship for 2012, the HTC One X falls short of the top spot for one reason alone - battery life. Otherwise, you’re onto a phone with the best screen and snapper in our opinion. It’s also packing a lightning fast Nvidia Tegra 3 processor as well as 32GB on board memory.
The high point of the HTC One X however is definitely the camera. Capable of capturing 8-megapixel photos at a speedy 5 frames per second and loaded with a range of effects including HDR and filters, it's quite simply stunning. This imaging experience only gets better when you enjoy your shots on the beautiful 720p super LCD2 display.
With a unibody that feels extremely solid and looks great, balanced weighting and deceptive lightness for a 4.7-inch device, the HTC One X is the ideal phone for anyone who’s has regular access to a charging port.
3. Sony Xperia S - “Style and substance”
In an age of quad-core, Sony bucked the trend and released a dual-core flagship, the Sony Xperia S. Loaded with the highest pixel density screen on the market and a design nothing short of iconic, the Xperia S is one bold design risk that we feel has paid off in spades, packing both style and substance.
A 12-megapixel camera coupled with a physical two-stage camera button means the Sony Xperia S does a great job as a compact camera replacement or supplement. Delivering the best detail levels out of all the phones in our top ten, outdoor pictures look incredible with vibrant colours, great focusing and an inutitive UI. That said, drop the lights and noise handling isn’t quite as good as it could be, which when coupled with a relatively weak flash makes the Xperia S good, but not great in low light.
In addition, while Sony customise and compensate for the lack of ICS on the Xperia S, the mere fact it still isn't running Android 4.0 doesn't bode well for the update to Jelly Bean landing promptly after Google release the source code.
4. Samsung Galaxy Note - “Not quite a phone, but...”
Next in line is our phablet, phonelet, tabile 5.3-inch device, not quite a phone, but smaller than a tab, the Samsung Galaxy Note creates a category unto itself and has generated a marmite like reaction from most mobile users.
Once you get over its size there’s plenty to sink your teeth into: an HD Super AMOLED screen with a 1280x800 resolution, a 1.4GHz dual-core Exynos processor not to mention an S-Pen, Samsung’s proprietary stylus device perfect for anyone feeling a bit creative on the move.
Slim and elegant, it looks like a more sultry, curvaceous version of the S2, packing a sizable 2500 mAh battery and 16GB of onboard memory. For anyone in need of more, you’re treated to a micro SD card slot, expandable by an additional 32GB.
We’ve gone to town on the Note since getting it into the office, reviewing it, re-reviewing it, suggesting apps for it and even sketching with it. So as phablet converts, it’s easy to place it in our top five despite it being one of the older handsets on the list. Having recently scooped up ICS, the jury's out as to whether a second OS update will be making its way to the Note but here's to hoping.
5. Huawei Ascend G300 - “How much?”
The lowest end phone on the market is the Huawei Ascend G300, packing a 1GHz processor, a 4-inch WVGA display and a 5-megapixel autofocus camera, you might initially ask yourself - why is this low to mid-range phone in our top 5, let alone our top ten? Because. It costs just £100.
How much? You heard. £100 on pay as you go. Exclusive to Vodafone for the time being, the Huawei Ascend G300 ticks a lot more boxes than any other £100 phone does. A smooth UI, decent camera, expandable memory, ICS on the way in h2, there’s every reason to pick on up, penny pincher or not.
6. Motorola RAZR MAXX - “Who wants to live forever?”
We liked the Motorola RAZR, it had solid performance and decent battery life, averaging out at about a day. The dual-core processor was snappy and the design sleek. Queue 2012 and the Motorola RAZR has had a reprise in the Motorola RAZR MAXX.
Also packing the same processor, 4.3-inch Super AMOLED qHD display and 8GB of usable memory with microSD expandability the Motorola RAZR MAXX gets its surname from the incredible 3300mAh battery on board. Giant however isn't the name of the game across the board, given that despite packing over double the battery power of most on the market, the RAZR MAXX measures less than 9mm thick. Add to that solid performance across the board and a decent 8-megapixel camera capable of full HD video and you’re onto a niche handset that offers a lot of bang for your buck.
Who wants to live forever? The Motorola RAZR MAXX, that’s who.
7. Samsung Galaxy Nexus - “Stock glory”
Here’s irony, we have nine other Android smartphones in our top ten. Many are fortunate enough to run ICS, the rest run Gingerbread but regardless, none of them pack Android as Google intended it in its unadulterated skin-free form. For that you’ve only really got one choice, the Samsung Galaxy Nexus.
With solid hardware including a dual-core processor, 720p display and an incredibly attractive design complete with buttonless fascia, the Samsung Galaxy Nexus is a physical embodiment of ICS. With the new version of Android introducing so many incredible features, any self-respecting hardcore Android fanboy should have one of these in at least one of their pockets to show them off in their best light.
8. Samsung Galaxy S2 - “Old Faithful”
A year on and the only last-gen phone in our top ten is the Samsung Galaxy S2. Was it the best of last year? In some areas, yes. Was it our favourite? Not necessarily. But it’s in our top ten because Samsung played the flagship game very well.
They waited a full year to release a phone better (given the fact that the Note is a phablet) and didn’t dilute their flagship’s credentials like HTC and Sony Ericsson. Part of the reason Samsung could do this however was because the Sasmung Galaxy S2 was a very strong handset to begin with. Simple design, light, 4.3-inch Super AMOLED Plus display and a powerful processor.
Add to that very competitive pricing and the Samsung Galaxy S2 became the Android phone for the masses in 2011 and now in 2012, old faithful's still selling like hot cakes.
9. HTC One V - “Sturdy meets affordable”
While the Huawei Ascend G300 packs the same core specs as the HTC One V, the V is considerably more expensive and that’s because it comes loaded with HTC’s user experience. Not only has it got fantastic, premium hardware with its all metal chassis and elegant chin, it also packs our favourite Android Skins, HTC Sense 4.0.
Inside the HTC One V is a 1GHz processor and a 3.7-inch WVGA display and 4GB of memory as well as micro SD expanability. This makes the V a competent media player with a compact form, sharp screen and memory options galore.
What also seperates the HTC One V from the Ascend G300 and other phones in its price range is its camera. With an f/2.2 lens and almost all the UI options found on the HTC One X, it takes incredible pictures, focuses up close in a flash and manages to churn out good amounts of detail with solid noise handling to boot.
While not super-cheap, for what it offers the HTC One V is a worthy top tenner, epitomising the point at which sturdy meets affordable.
10. LG Prada 3.0 - “Fashion-centricity”
When LG brought out their Prada 3.0 we were worried it might be an overpriced, under-specced handset that didn’t even offer anything special to the saturated world of Android smartphones. That said, our worries were dispelled after we got our hands on one.
An attractive design meets a bold 4.3-inch display using LG’s Nova technology. This delivers accurate whites and incredible brightness. The UI is customised with a smart black and white aesthetic and thanks to the 1Ghz dual-core processor, while not the fastest phone out there, it managed to deal with everything we threw at it with no issues.
So whether you’re in need of mobile fashion-centricity or just want a well-specced slender phone, the LG Prada 3.0 is one of our pleasant surprises of 2012.
11. Samsung Galaxy S3 - "The Wildcard"
We know, this is number 11 and the Samsung Galaxy S3 isn't even out yet, but we simply had to feature it as the wildcard. After having spent a few hours with it, we're confident enough in its power, its poise and its packed feature-set to give it a place in our top 10. Not only does it pack Samsung's quad-core Exynos processor and a 4.8-inch HD SuperAMOLED screen, but Samsung have loaded it to the brim with sensors and software that really help it stand out from the crowd.
Sensors? What kind of sensors? With a total of six sensors to track your movements, the Samsung Galaxy S3 will read your eyes to see if you're looking at the screen. Once you turn away, it will switch off and so long as your gaze is fixed, it will remain on. In addition, from within a messaging application, putting the phone to your ear will dial whichever contact you happen to be on.
The phone also packs an impressive 2100 mAh battery, 8-megapixel camera and a photo editing suite as well as a range of fun, personal apps. Admittedly some seemed gimmicky, blood sugar level monitor? But on the whole, we're heartily impressed with Samsung's next Galaxy.
So there you have it. Updated for 2012, this is our affirmative list of ten Android phones we'd recommend right now and one to watch out for in the coming weeks. You can check out all the reviews of the phones above and the preview of the Samsung Galaxy S3 for a more in depth overview, and if you have any questions about these handsets, we've personally picked them apart to within an inch of their lives, so odds are if you fire us a question, we'll have an answer.
