Discover what are the best Android phones to buy in 2013 and
read our in-depth smartphone reviews, as rated by our team of expert
reviewers. Android devices now dominate the market for smartphones,
having overtaken the iPhone in sales. Google's Android operating system
is remarkably flexible, and there are loads of Android phones available
to buy.
Here are our top picks, from budget pay-as-you-go devices to flagship handsets with all the latest features. There's an Android phone here for every need and budget.
Our Expert Opinion The Samsung Galaxy S3 is the best-selling Android handset out there. It's Samsung's flagship model and was designed to compete with top-end phones such as the latest iPhone. However, huge competition between retailers mean it costs much less than you might expect - free on a £26 per month contract.
Despite its reasonable price the S3 comes with a gorgeous, huge, AMOLED display, which is capable of deep blacks and vibrant colours. It's not the smallest handset admittedly, but Samsung has kept it nice and slender. The camera is good too, taking well composed shots as quickly as you can tap the shutter.
A 4G version is now also available, from EE, so you can get the fastest possible mobile data - up to 25Mbit/s. However, this version costs a chunk more than the more common 3G model.
We're not huge fans of Samsung's take on Android, but it doesn't take long to hide away all the unwanted apps and install your own favourites. It runs Android 4.1 at present, which is super-slick and has everything you need - 4.2 is better but its best features are tablet-centric.
It's been around a while but the quad-core S3 still feels fresh and fast, plus it has a great big 2,100mAh battery. It remains our number one choice for those looking for a powerful Android phone on contract.
SPECS
OPERATING SYSTEM Android 4.1
PROCESSOR SPEED 1.4GHz
NUMBER OF CORES 4
RAM 2GB
MOBILE DATA GPRS, EDGE, 3G, HSDPA, 4G
DISPLAY 4.8in 720x1,280 LCD
CAMERA 8-megapixel
INTERNAL STORAGE 16GB
MEMORY CARD SLOT microSD
DIMENSIONS 137x71x9mm, 133g
A remarkably inexpensive smartphone with the latest version of Android
Our Expert Opinion Google has somehow managed to bring out a quad-core smartphone with an AMOLED screen for just £239.
The Nexus 4 is made by LG, and while its bland exterior doesn't really scream desirability, as soon as you start using the phone you'll be smitten.
The Nexus 4 is screamingly fast - apps open in a snap, and Google Maps glides around under your finger. The screen is gorgeous, too; its 1,280x768 resolution has the highest resolution of any Android smartphone we've seen, and it's right up there with the Nokia Lumia 920. This gives a pixel density of 320ppi, which makes this screen almost as detailed as that of the iPhone 5.
The only drawback is battery life, which can't quite match the Samsung Galaxy S3. The only problem is getting hold of one, as they have proven far more popular than Google or LG had planned for.
SPECS
OPERATING SYSTEM Android 4.2
PROCESSOR SPEED 1.5GHz
NUMBER OF CORES 4
RAM 2GB
MOBILE DATA GPRS, EDGE, HSDPA, HSUPA
DISPLAY 4.7in 768x1,280 LCD
CAMERA 8-megapixel
INTERNAL STORAGE 8GB
DIMENSIONS 134x69x9.1mm, 139g
A gorgeous slimline Intel phone
Our Expert Opinion This is the first big-brand phone to use Intel's mobile processor. It's really quick too, rivalling even the iPhone 5 and Windows Phone 8 handsets in browser-based benchmarks and leaving the vast majority of Android handsets trailing. It runs Android 4.0, but there's no update yet to the smoother and faster Android 4.1.
As with many mid-range handsets, the Razr i uses a 4.3in 960x540-pixel Super AMOLED screen - with plenty of contrast and punch. Given the size of the screen, the handset is incredibly compact, with very slender bezels down each side.
As part of the Razr line, this handset also benefits from some tough design. The rear panel is made of Kevlar, and the whole handset has a water resistant nano-coating - making it splashproof. It's a great little phone if you fancy something a little different, and is good value on contract.
SPECS
OPERATING SYSTEM Android 4.04
PROCESSOR SPEED 2GHz
NUMBER OF CORES 1
RAM 1GB
MOBILE DATA GPRS, EDGE, 3G, HSDPA
DISPLAY 4.3in 960x540 LCD
CAMERA 8-megapixel
INTERNAL STORAGE 8GB
MEMORY CARD SLOT microSD
DIMENSIONS 123x61x8mm, 126g
One of the best budget handsets
Our Expert Opinion With so many competitive contracts and subsidised handsets about, if you're serious about your smartphones then you should probably sign up. If you only plan to use it occasionally though, then a pay-as-you-go handset may prove cheaper over two to three years.
The HTC Desire X is among the better examples in this category, in that it's a decent Android handset with no major compromises for around £200, less than half what a top-end device would cost you.
It's slim and light and looks classy in white. The 4in screen has a respectable 800x480 resolution and is both bright and crisp. Android runs smoothly on the 1GHz dual-core processor, though it's only the 4.0 version. The 5-megapixel camera takes decent snaps for a budget handset.
It's a good all-round phone, though don't expect it to wow anyone.
SPECS
OPERATING SYSTEM Android 4.0
PROCESSOR SPEED 1GHz
NUMBER OF CORES 2
RAM 768MB
MOBILE DATA GPRS, EDGE, 3G, HSDPA
DISPLAY 4.0in 800x480 LCD
CAMERA 5-megapixel
INTERNAL STORAGE 4096MB
MEMORY CARD SLOT microSD
DIMENSIONS 119x62x9mm, 114g
Here are our top picks, from budget pay-as-you-go devices to flagship handsets with all the latest features. There's an Android phone here for every need and budget.
Samsung Galaxy S3
An incredible phone, now available at very competitive prices
Our Expert Opinion The Samsung Galaxy S3 is the best-selling Android handset out there. It's Samsung's flagship model and was designed to compete with top-end phones such as the latest iPhone. However, huge competition between retailers mean it costs much less than you might expect - free on a £26 per month contract.
Despite its reasonable price the S3 comes with a gorgeous, huge, AMOLED display, which is capable of deep blacks and vibrant colours. It's not the smallest handset admittedly, but Samsung has kept it nice and slender. The camera is good too, taking well composed shots as quickly as you can tap the shutter.
A 4G version is now also available, from EE, so you can get the fastest possible mobile data - up to 25Mbit/s. However, this version costs a chunk more than the more common 3G model.
We're not huge fans of Samsung's take on Android, but it doesn't take long to hide away all the unwanted apps and install your own favourites. It runs Android 4.1 at present, which is super-slick and has everything you need - 4.2 is better but its best features are tablet-centric.
It's been around a while but the quad-core S3 still feels fresh and fast, plus it has a great big 2,100mAh battery. It remains our number one choice for those looking for a powerful Android phone on contract.
SPECS
OPERATING SYSTEM Android 4.1
PROCESSOR SPEED 1.4GHz
NUMBER OF CORES 4
RAM 2GB
MOBILE DATA GPRS, EDGE, 3G, HSDPA, 4G
DISPLAY 4.8in 720x1,280 LCD
CAMERA 8-megapixel
INTERNAL STORAGE 16GB
MEMORY CARD SLOT microSD
DIMENSIONS 137x71x9mm, 133g
Google Nexus 4
A remarkably inexpensive smartphone with the latest version of Android
Our Expert Opinion Google has somehow managed to bring out a quad-core smartphone with an AMOLED screen for just £239.
The Nexus 4 is made by LG, and while its bland exterior doesn't really scream desirability, as soon as you start using the phone you'll be smitten.
The Nexus 4 is screamingly fast - apps open in a snap, and Google Maps glides around under your finger. The screen is gorgeous, too; its 1,280x768 resolution has the highest resolution of any Android smartphone we've seen, and it's right up there with the Nokia Lumia 920. This gives a pixel density of 320ppi, which makes this screen almost as detailed as that of the iPhone 5.
The only drawback is battery life, which can't quite match the Samsung Galaxy S3. The only problem is getting hold of one, as they have proven far more popular than Google or LG had planned for.
SPECS
OPERATING SYSTEM Android 4.2
PROCESSOR SPEED 1.5GHz
NUMBER OF CORES 4
RAM 2GB
MOBILE DATA GPRS, EDGE, HSDPA, HSUPA
DISPLAY 4.7in 768x1,280 LCD
CAMERA 8-megapixel
INTERNAL STORAGE 8GB
DIMENSIONS 134x69x9.1mm, 139g
Motorola RAZR i
A gorgeous slimline Intel phone
Our Expert Opinion This is the first big-brand phone to use Intel's mobile processor. It's really quick too, rivalling even the iPhone 5 and Windows Phone 8 handsets in browser-based benchmarks and leaving the vast majority of Android handsets trailing. It runs Android 4.0, but there's no update yet to the smoother and faster Android 4.1.
As with many mid-range handsets, the Razr i uses a 4.3in 960x540-pixel Super AMOLED screen - with plenty of contrast and punch. Given the size of the screen, the handset is incredibly compact, with very slender bezels down each side.
As part of the Razr line, this handset also benefits from some tough design. The rear panel is made of Kevlar, and the whole handset has a water resistant nano-coating - making it splashproof. It's a great little phone if you fancy something a little different, and is good value on contract.
SPECS
OPERATING SYSTEM Android 4.04
PROCESSOR SPEED 2GHz
NUMBER OF CORES 1
RAM 1GB
MOBILE DATA GPRS, EDGE, 3G, HSDPA
DISPLAY 4.3in 960x540 LCD
CAMERA 8-megapixel
INTERNAL STORAGE 8GB
MEMORY CARD SLOT microSD
DIMENSIONS 123x61x8mm, 126g
HTC Desire X
One of the best budget handsets
Our Expert Opinion With so many competitive contracts and subsidised handsets about, if you're serious about your smartphones then you should probably sign up. If you only plan to use it occasionally though, then a pay-as-you-go handset may prove cheaper over two to three years.
The HTC Desire X is among the better examples in this category, in that it's a decent Android handset with no major compromises for around £200, less than half what a top-end device would cost you.
It's slim and light and looks classy in white. The 4in screen has a respectable 800x480 resolution and is both bright and crisp. Android runs smoothly on the 1GHz dual-core processor, though it's only the 4.0 version. The 5-megapixel camera takes decent snaps for a budget handset.
It's a good all-round phone, though don't expect it to wow anyone.
SPECS
OPERATING SYSTEM Android 4.0
PROCESSOR SPEED 1GHz
NUMBER OF CORES 2
RAM 768MB
MOBILE DATA GPRS, EDGE, 3G, HSDPA
DISPLAY 4.0in 800x480 LCD
CAMERA 5-megapixel
INTERNAL STORAGE 4096MB
MEMORY CARD SLOT microSD
DIMENSIONS 119x62x9mm, 114g
