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Welcome to the future, in which smartphones rule all. Sony Ericsson has already announced that, from 2012, they’re only going to make and release smartphones. Blackberry, ever the keyboard’s best friend, is moving towards touch-screens alone. Whilst the bad news is that phones are becoming increasingly similar to one another, the good news is that these phones are improving rapidly, with benchmarks now incredibly high.
Aside from the individual phones’ details, outlined below, there is a contrast between the operating systems. The new Blackberry 7 sees a relatively dull upgrade to an already dull OS. It’s fast, but doesn’t stand out. Windows 7.5 is a notch above, though its flexibility and number of apps isn’t something to rave about. The iOS 5 is a great improvement and the new iPhone also includes Siri, the best voice-control that exists (and which has a level of understanding and humour that has escaped all previous voice-controls, able to understand many regional dialects – though not Welsh, apparently). Android 4.0 is released this month and outshines competition, with flexibility greatly above the competition despite Google’s apps still trailing Apple’s.
Nine of the best phones out there (Samsung Galaxy Nexus, Nokia Lumia 800, Motorola RAZR, HTC Titan, iPhone 4S, Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc S, HTC Sensation XE, Blackberry Torch 9860 and LG Optimus 3D) are reviewed and compared below. The OS is listed (alongside the cheapest price available between Orange, O2, Phones4U, Carphone Warehouse and Amazon.co.uk) with processing speed, camera quality and screen size. Certain attributes can’t be quantified, but many can. There are many great phones that aren’t listed here, so remember that these aren’t the only options – and I really recommend avoiding paying full price for these on pay-as-you-go, given the £500+ tags that match a few names this Christmas. Even the iPhone 4S, as the most expensive of the options, is available free with a £41-per-month contract.
Samsung Galaxy Nexus - *****
OS: Android 4.0
Price: £549.99
Processor: 1.2GHz
Camera: 8MP
Screen size: 4.65”
The Galaxy Nexus was released in November, and stands out as the first Android 4.0 (“ICS”) device out there. Much anticipated, and though the processor isn’t the 1.5GHz many had hoped for, it doesn’t disappoint. I personally consider this the best phone this year.
Nokia Lumia 800 - ****
OS: Windows 7.5
Price: £399.99
Processor: 1.4GHz
Camera: 8MP
Screen size: 3.7”
The Nokia “formerly known as SeaRay” Lumia 800 is possibly the phone that brings Windows phones up to standard. As the best Nokia phone currently available, it is sure to be popular, whatever colour is chosen. Windows has its own disadvantages, but there aren’t really any other issues with this phone.
Motorola RAZR - ****
OS: Android 2.3
Price: £499.99
Processor: 1.2GHz
Camera: 8MP
Screen size: 4.3”
At 7.1mm thick, the phone is very Motorola and is upgradeable to Android 4.0. It’s stylish and uniquely Motorola, and is good enough to help reaffirm Motorola’s once-sterling image (especially given its increasingly likely buyout by Google). I still prefer the Milestones, but their reliability and popularity won’t match the RAZR.
HTC Titan - ***
OS: Windows 7.5
Price: £459.99
Processor: 1.5GHz
Camera: 8MP
Screen size: 4.7”
This beast earns its Titanic name, with a large screen and 160g mass. It has a great processing speed and, alongside the Radar, is HTC’s first attempt at a Windows 7 phone. A ‘solid’ choice if you prefer bulky handsets.
iPhone 4S - *****
OS: iOS 5.0
Price: £579.99
Processor: 1.6GHz
Camera: 8MP
Screen size: 4”
“Siri” makes this phone unique and the Apple app market is still very strong. Aside from these, the phone looks identical to the iPhone 4 and has the same drawbacks: it simply isn’t better than other phones, despite its massive price tag.
Sony-Ericsson Xperia Arc S - *****
OS: Android 2.3
Price: £362.99
Processor: 1.4GHz
Camera: 8.1MP
Screen size: 4.2”
Sony Ericsson builds on its excellent reputation with a master class in phone-making. Appealing in looks, statistically solid and with an Android 4.0 update already out, this phone is easily the best value-for-money of those reviewed here.
HTC Sensation XE - *****
OS: Android 2.3
Price: £429.99
Processor: 1.5GHz
Camera: 8MP
Screen size: 4.3”
Alongside the XL (which is virtually identical apart from its 4.7” screen), HTC have produced another brilliant phone. Top class, and nothing more to add other than its improved audio quality (and particularly bass, with its Beats Audio).
BlackBerry Torch 9860 - ***
OS: BB7.0
Price: £369.99
Processor: 1.2GHz
Camera: 5MP
Screen size: 3.7”
The first attempt by BlackBerry-maker RIM to match the smartphones of rival groups, the attempt is feeble at best. Without an 8MP camera, or a good operating system, it simply isn’t able to match the latest Sony Ericsson or HTC.
LG Optimus 3D - **
OS: Android 2.3
Price: £349.99
Processor: 1.0GHz
Camera: 5MP
Screen size: 4.3”
Some people like LG phones; I don’t. Some people like 3D phones; I don’t. It only has a 5MP camera, is an Android 2.2 and has 1GHz of processing power, but is as good as any other 3D phone and is the best LG phone yet, so get it if you like either LG or 3D. Which I don’t.
I have the IPhone 4 and it's amazing - I don't see the point in upgrading to the IPhone 4S though, especially not at that price. Blackberries are pretty good too!
The iPhone 4 is a solid phone, but was barely ahead of the pack when it was released. Things like Siri and the improved specs (and iOS 5) make this one worthwhile - but it still costs too much and is still superseded too quickly by competitors. Apple's just not ahead of the game, and still tries to charge twice the price.
For those interested, I'm planning on buying the Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc S. Not sure why it's called the Arc " above.. I'm sadly unimpressed by the Galaxy Nexus which appears a little buggy. The Arc S is reliable, slick, fast and being upgraded to Android 4.0 in the new year so is now my favourite (plus I can get it on £20 per month 
)
Also, I missed Aimee saying Blackberries are pretty good... Really? The new touchscreen smartphone Blackberry is pretty much a normal HTC phone but without any good apps - given six months, I'm sure they'll be competitive - but the 9860 (not 98600!) is just poor 
Boom. Edited.
Perhaps you're right about blackberries, Jason - I don't know what they are like now really! I had one about 4 years ago so it was fairly basic but it was good. I'm not a big tech person though!
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