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.
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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.
- Sony Ericsson Xperia Mini review
- Search for the best Sony Ericsson Xperia Mini deals
9. Samsung Galaxy Note
Samsung took screen size to a ridiculous new level with the Galaxy Note, offering us a huge 5.3" display that's by far the largest of any smartphone out there today.
You also get a stylus, which is pressure sensitive and comes with great handwriting recognition tools, plus dual cameras (8MP and 2MP) along with an LED flash around the back and rather decent image results.
As with all of Samsung's newest Android models the Note is a solid performer, running Android 2.3 impeccably, with the same TouchWiz interface we've seen on the likes of the Galaxy S II.
With the show running at a super-high 1280x800 resolution, it's a sharp-looking, smooth-running phone for those who don't want their style cramping.
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Quick verdict:
A great mobile, as long as you're not easily embarrassed by whipping out something so comically huge in public.
- Samsung Galaxy Note review
- Search for the best Samsung Galaxy Note deals
8. Orange Monte Carlo
Orange stuck its logo on another ZTE-made phone in 2011, hoping to recreate the successes of the super-budget Orange San Francisco. And there are some reasons to upgrade to the £150 Monte Carlo, the most obvious being the larger screen.
ZTE's stuck a large 4.3" display in here, which runs at a decent 800x480 resolution. It's not as dazzling as the displays on similarly sized phones like the Xperia Arc, but it's still a big, solid screen considering the budget price.
Unfortunately the Android 2.3 OS has been modified by Orange, which has made it all... orange. But at least the network has added a nice gesture-based control system that works well, while the Monte Carlo also generally runs smoothly, powering web pages and apps well. Shame about the VGA video recording spec, though.
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Quick verdict:
It doesn't have quite the same transformational appeal as the San Fran, but it delivers a lot of phone and punch for the money.
- Orange Monte Carlo review
- Search for the best Orange Monte Carlo deals
7. Motorola Razr
Motorola's newest flagship is by far its best Android offering so far, fusing a unique hardware design with a less obtrusive user interface skin.
In fact, Motorola's UI is actually quite fun to play with nowadays, coming with resizable widgets and its extremely clever Smart Actions automation system, which lets you set all sorts of time and location-aware rules up and running.
The phone is solidly made, and although impressively skinny, the odd, bulbous camera unit and extra-wide bezel make it feel chunkier in the handy than the likes of the Xperia Arc S and the older Galaxy S II. Still, if you like them a bit different, the Razr certainly stands out from the pack.
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Quick verdict:
Impressively built, fast hardware with a great display, plus a well refined Motorola interface. Best current Moto mobile by miles.
- Motorola Razr review
- Search for the best Motorola Razr deals
6. HTC Desire S
Nearly two years ago the HTC Desire was the cutting-edge "superphone" of choice, now its enhanced sequel is an affordable mid-range option.
That's how fast things move in the Android world. But don't dismiss the Desire S because of its workmanlike approach. What you get here is a solid phone with a great 3.7" screen, powered by Android 2.3 and HTC's updated Sense 2.1 user interface. The result is a very slick and smooth experience.
The camera is sadly a weak point, though, offering the same blotchy 5 MP output as the original Desire. But apart from that, everything here's a little better than in last year's Desire. Which makes this a fantastic smartphone and a great entry to Android.
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Quick verdict
A superb update of the HTC Desire. Slightly smaller and a little faster, it's a perfect gradual evolution of 2010's smash. Available on some very cheap contracts, too.
- HTC Desire S review
- Search for the best HTC Desire S deals
Best Android phone: 5-1
5. Samsung Galaxy Nexus
Google and Samsung's 2011 flagship is currently the only official way to get the all-new Android 4.0 experience on a mobile, and for that reason alone it's a must-have for any Android user.
As a smartphone itself, it's a good all-round performer, too, although the omission of an SD card slot is a slightly odd decision.
The large 4.65" screen is glassy, smooth and responsive, running at an immense 720 x 1280 HD resolution. It's bright, plus the 1.2GHz dual-core processor keeps everything running well, while the curved chassis is just about stylish enough to give the phone an edge over some of the more boring black slabs out there.
The 5megapixel camera appears a little weak on the tech spec list, but image results and HD videos emerge sharp and clear - plus it has a cool timelapse feature, too.
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Quick verdict:
Definitely the #1 choice for Android enthusiasts, but the lack of Flash Player support and some weird app inconsistencies mean it's probably not yet ideal for the mainstream buyer.
- Samsung Galaxy Nexus review
- Search for the best Samsung Galaxy Nexus deals
4. Sony Ericsson Xperia Ray
Something for the more modest smartphone buyer, this one. Coming with a 3.3" display squeezed into a slim and angular case, the Ray's Reality Display screen is the star here.
The screen runs at 480x854 resolution, which, when packed into a relatively small space, means a super-sharp and clear display that's as clear and bright as the best of them.
The 8megapixel camera does a great job of capturing both stills and 720p video, while Sony Ericsson's latest Android 2.3 update includes some nice touches like a gesture-based, line-drawing keyboard, plus 2D and 3D panoramic photo capture. It's a very finely tuned and sweet little phone.
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Quick verdict:
Would we get in trouble for suggesting this is perfect for lady smartphone users looking for a small, stylish and generally less macho Android experience? Hope not.
- Sony Ericsson Xperia Ray review
- Search for the best Sony Ericsson Xperia Ray deals
3. Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc S
Sony Ericsson's glamorous take on Android is an absolute pleasure to use, with its curved body feeling great in the hand and the 2.3 version of Google's OS now powered by an updated 1.4GHz processor.
It's not dual-core, but it all moves very well indeed, with Sony Ericsson's user interface additions giving the Arc a stylish feel in use, too. The 4.2" BRAVIA Engine "Reality Display" is bright and colourful, with text sharp and well defined thanks to the high 854x480 resolution.
The 8 MP camera produces great stills, with 720p video looking good despite the occasional glitch when recording. The Arc S is simply a lovely, well designed thing to have and enjoy, that shows both Android and Sony Ericsson's phone-making skills in a great light.
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Quick verdict:
Unbelievably thin and stylish, with internal bits that keep everything running fast and reliably. Good camera with HD video - it's a fantastic package.
- Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc S review
- Search for the best Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc S deals
2. HTC Sensation XE
The HTC Sensation XE is the Taiwanese brand's update of 2011's HTC Sensation, arriving with a slightly faster dual-processor clock speed and integrated Beats Audio features thanks to HTC's deals with the posh headphone manufacturer.
With a 4.3-inch qHD screen and the latest version of Sense coming on board makes it a really zippy and clear experience, and the addition of HTC Watch brings movie streaming and purchase to your handset.
It's a well-built and solid device, and the 8MP camera can record in sparkling 1080p too - it might not be the top Android handset, but it's very, very close.
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Quick verdict
We think the Samsung Galaxy S2 is a slightly better proposition overall, thanks to better screen technology and a slimmer chassis. But for the HTC fans out there, the Sensation XE is definitely the new alpha handset on the block.
- HTC Sensation XE review
- Search for the best HTC Sensation XE deals
1. Samsung Galaxy S2
You won't believe how thin and light it is. Then you won't believe how fast it is. The Galaxy S II offers a genuinely exciting experience, managing to eclipse all other Android phones in every field.
Apps install ridiculously quickly, while browsing web pages is so fast it's hard to believe you're looking at a telephone screen. The large display is robust and, despite the slim and lightweight case, build quality manages to impress.
You get the latest Android 2.3.3 onboard, while many of Samsung's Touchwiz widgets are resizable, making it a phone that's fun to customise and spend time playing with. This is Android made fast and thrilling.
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Quick verdict:
The first of 2011's dual-core Android phones to offer an experience that feels significantly ahead of the competition. Incredibly fast in all areas, with a super screen and very useful camera - it's Android taken to the next level.
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