Buying Guide: 10 best mobile phones in the world today Number 10: OnePlus One We know why youre here: you want to find out the best smartphone 2015. Come on, it makes sense: weve all got at least one mobile phone, right? Weve probably got about three or four nowadays, and that counts giving your old Nokia 3310 to your Mum a few years ago. But now the world has changed, and from Apple to Samsung to HTC to a host of up-and-coming names, choosing your next greatest smartphone is a tricky task. This is where we make it easy: we thoroughly test hundreds of top smartphones and have found the ten best you can spend your money on. It needs to be good, after all, given it will reside in your pocket for the next two years. Our ranking of the best mobile phones available in the UK today celebrates the brilliance of the smartphone. We only feature the latest handsets available (unless an older model has become hyper-cheap and still offers decent functionality) as the newer models will stay serviced with software updates for longer, safeguarding you from having a broken phone with no hope of updates in a years time. Were just beginning 2015, and at the end of the year the Apple iPhone 6 and Apple iPhone 6 Plus challenged the heads of state in the smartphone world - namely the LG G3 and the HTC One M8. But if youre currently considering your next mobile phone, dont forget were not far away from the next crop: the HTC One M9 and Samsung Galaxy S6 are tipped to be coming at Mobile World Congress in March, so it might be worth waiting to see what appears then before making your decision. MWC 2015: What to expect If that still doesnt help, well, theres always our extensive mobile phone reviews pages as well. When youve decided which new phone to buy (and checked out the best mobile phone deal), why not cash in your old one with our phone recycling price comparison service? Here are our rankings for the best mobile phones around, currently available in the UK. 10. OnePlus One Youve probably never heard of OnePlus... but if you have, youll know why this unknown brand is suddenly sitting in our list of best smartphones in the world. The reason is simple: its a phone that has all the power, specs and functionality of the top dogs, adds in super-customisable software and does it at nearly half the price. Were talking big savings on cost (£229 for the 16GB version and £269 for the 64GB variant) without much in the way of compromise. In fact, the only things its really missing are a microSD slot and removable battery, and those are elements more for the purists than absolutely necessary. If were being super picky, its not got the greatest camera set up and the design is a bit... efficient, but at this price point it really doesnt matter. And given the target audience is those that care about raw power over style, it makes sense that this is where the costs could be saved. Quick verdict We love the fact that a new contender can maintain such a high place in the ranking of the best phones in the world - it means that its not just a case of big budget means best phone. We were debating whether the OnePlus One could even have gone higher, but theres one big problem that youll have if you want to get your hands on one: theyre impossible to find. Numbers wont ramp up for a while, and probably never to the level of availability of the better-known names. But if you want a phone that offers supreme power at a really low cost: the OnePlus One is it. Its what the Nexus range used to be, and if Google ditches that program, then thankfully OnePlus has shown there will be brands to pick up the slack. OnePlus One review Number 9: Moto X 9. Moto X (2014) Its a big win for Motorola at the moment, now its stolen in with two places in our rankings list. It feels like a smaller smartphone, despite packing a 5.2-inch screen, as the front is mostly all bezel. That screen is one of the standout features here, as it not only has superb Super AMOLED clarity (courtesy of Samsung) but it also has the very clever Motorola Active Display, which lets you wave your hand over the screen to see vital info and then press to preview messages. Its not got all the bells and whistles of most smartphones - for instance, theres no way to restart the phone and the camera is rather basic - but as a day to day device its very strong. Quick verdict Dont think that just because the Moto X 2014 name didnt get much of a change that the phone is just a basic specs bump. Motorolas new flagship smartphone proves that the reinvented company is listening to customer feedback with a bigger screen and aluminum metal frame, all for a price thats better than its competition. Its not widely available yet in the UK, and it still could do with a microSD slot and a better camera, but for a phone that doesnt cost as much, allows you to customise nearly everything stylish about the design and works well, its one of the best. Moto X (2014) review See the best Moto X deals Number 8: Sony Xperia Z3 8. Sony Xperia Z3 The Xperia Z3 has arrived a little too soon since the Z2 was launched, with not a huge amount of upgrades - but its still a very nice phone. The design is slimmed down and the screen is insanely bright, and youve still got all the lovely Sony gubbins, like Bravia tech in the screen and improved audio output. The camera, sadly, hasnt been upgraded and still packs some of the inconsistencies wed hoped would be ironed out by Sonys amazing camera team, and its still not up the power of the others on the market. That said, with Remote Play now enabled, its bounced up the rankings slightly. Quick verdict The Z3 is a brilliant phone with a few rough edges - if you like a powerful camera that rewards learning the intricacies and want a really bright screen (with Remote Play on top) then the Z3 is very much worth looking at. Sony Xperia Z3 review See the best Sony Xperia Z3 deals Number 7: Nexus 6 7. Nexus 6 The new Nexus is here: good news, the camera is finally half-decent on a Nexus phone. Bad news, its no longer a super-cheap superphone, hence it not landing higher up the rankings. It does have an excellent screen, a very, very beefy Snapdragon 805 chipset to run nearly anything you want and the media capabilities are excellent. And thats without even talking about the fact it will be getting the latest Android upgrades thanks to being Googles flagship handset. The only downside (and its not going to be a hindrance to some people) is that its got a whopping 5.96-inch screen. Its still roughly the same size as the iPhone 6 Plus, and if you prefer a smaller phone, its based on the same design as the Moto X, thanks to being made by Motorola. Quick verdict The death of the Google Nexus program has been greatly exaggerated, and this years stock Android phone ironically resulted in an exaggerated Moto X. Its tremendous display, premium specs and debut of Android 5.0 Lollipop make one of the best phablets to date. Its not cheap, but its the best Nexus ever made. And, when you think about it, youre not going to need to hold onto your money, as youll require both hands to grab onto this two-handed monster. Nexus 6 review Number 6: Sony Xperia Z3 Compact 6. Sony Xperia Z3 Compact Less powerful with a lower-res screen than its bigger brother? How is the Z3 Compact ahead? Well, its simple: this thing is all the power (well, mostly) of the larger model, with a smaller body. This means Remote Play for your PS4, a 20.7MP camera, the clear IPS LCD screen... its got it all and its much, much nicer to hold. The price is a lot lower too, so unless you want the brightness of the Full HD screen nearly every other feature is in this smaller phone, meaning it will have less impact on your pocket - both literally and figuratively. Quick verdict The best of Sony in a smartphone - if thats what youre after, this is the phone to go for. Its the ergonomics and the price that impress, and while its not quite got the spec sheet of the main Z3, its a lot more polished for some reason. On top of that it now packs Remote Play to make it a real winner if youre a PS4 owner - definitely one to check out if you fancy your power a bit more portable. Sony Xperia Z3 Compact review See the best Sony Xperia Z3 Compact deals Number 5: iPhone 6 Plus 5. iPhone 6 Plus While not quite as impressive as the smaller version, the first Apple phablet is jam-packed with things to love. The Plus takes all the best bits of the iPhone 6 - design, beautiful UI, strong camera performance - and improves upon them by packing an even better camera, a Full HD screen and much larger battery. The drawbacks are few, but pivotal: its a little harder to hold in one hand thanks to being a little too wide, plus its a lot more expensive. But with the same internal power, great graphical performance and access to Apples amazing media / app library, this tablet-phone hybrid is perfect for those that cant decide between the two formats. Quick verdict While the ergonomics of this phone arent brilliant, theres another reason its below the LG G3 and others: the price. Its very, very expensive and youll have to really be up for a phone of this calibre, and really want the extra space to merit a purchase. Of course, if youre an Apple fan and want a bigger iPhone, then you should shut your laptop or throw down your tablet immediately and run down to buy one of these (providing you can afford it, of course). Its a great phone made larger, and improved along the way too. iPhone 6 Plus review See the best iPhone 6 Plus deals Number 4: Samsung Galaxy Note 4 4. Samsung Galaxy Note 4 Hello Samsung. Nice to see you back up the list - and with the Note 4, the brand has managed to pack so much into the (well, still large) frame. The main thing is the screen: Super AMOLED technology combined with QHD resolution means a pin sharp display, and one that we just cant take our eyes off. The camera is nice, the power is next-gen and the whole thing is backed up by the ever-more-useful S Pen to help you clip and jot all day. Quick verdict While its got a big hold over the LG G3 in many ways, it cant compete on price with the South Korean rival - and thats the big drawback for this phablet. But its the closest phablet to the average smartphone weve seen so far, and it packs the most into that limited palm space. Well done Samsung - heres hoping the Galaxy S6 is even more impressive. Samsung Galaxy Note 4 review See the best Samsung Galaxy Note 4 deals Number 3: LG G3 3. LG G3 The LG G3 needed to be good, as it was based on the hard work of the G2, which was a strong, well-made phone that didnt cost a huge amount of money. So what does LG do with the G3? Goes and sticks the worlds sharpest display on there (well, there are others now, but it was first). Its a QHD screen, which means its got four times the pixels of some phones on this list, and it also comes with a number of other enhancements too - although with those extra pixels packed in, the display is a tiny bit darker than others on the market. Laser-based auto-focus? Check. Improved design? Check. Overhauled and simplified UI? Double check. Its going to be a little bit too big for some hands, as its packing in a 5.5-inch screen, so were verging on phablet territory. But dont let that take away from a terrific phone, one that has a sleek, refined air about it and adds in fan favourite features like a removable battery and memory card slot, where both were missing on the predecessor. Quick verdict The screen on the LG G3, when used properly to display high-resolution content, is immense… LG knew that, and has been rightly making a big deal about it. The overall design of the phone is vastly improved too, with the faux-metal cover not necessarily feeling great but certainly looks the part when laid on a table. The camera is powerful too, leading to some great snaps and wont let you down when you need to just capture the moment here and there. And its really dropping in price now, too. In short, its a necessary step on LGs quest to make the ultimate smartphone... if you want the best display out there with a good enough battery and strong camera, this is your next phone. LG G3 review See the best LG G3 deals Number 2: iPhone 6 2. iPhone 6 The iPhone 6 - a real step forward for Apple and a phone thats a real joy to use, hold and feel. Its got all the same ingredients that make iPhones special: while it doesnt excel in any given part of the smartphone recipe (except perhaps when it comes to the interface, which with iOS 8 is probably the best out there with its clever mix of intuition and simplicity) it just works. The camera is lower-res but fast and bright and easy to use. The screen is too low-res compared to the phones around it, but pops and fizzes with colour and brightness. And that design - we have to keep coming back to it as it feels beautiful in the hand. Quick verdict Why is the iPhone not number one? Simple: price, combined with a lower-res screen. The phone that does everything well in a great package is brilliant, but not significantly more than anything out there, which means you cant justify the higher tag. And if you are paying that much, wed expect it to be a brilliant, top-spec phone, which it isnt when it comes to the display. But dont let that put you off: if youre in the market for an iPhone, or just been tempted by one in the past: buy this one. Its excellent, a pure joy to use. iPhone 6 review See the best iPhone 6 deals Number 1: HTC One M8 1. HTC One M8 What to say about the HTC One M8? They often say the second album is the hardest, but the follow up to the all-conquering HTC One takes the best of that phone and yet still re-invents things enough to make it a massive recommendation over the old model. We love the speed of the camera, the Duo Camera is smart as a tack, the Boomsound upgrade is impressive and the design... well, you have to hold it. The Snapdragon 801 processor has boosted battery dramatically compared to the 600 of last year, and that means that photos also process much more quickly as well - even the front-facing camera is much better. Gaming, movies, photography, browsing all work really well, and in a phone that thats easily going to destroy whatever anyone else can design. LG ran it close with the G3 but ultimately wasnt the best package, and the iPhone 6 still suffers on price and, inexplicably, a lower-res screen. Quick Verdict If we were to criticise the One M8, it would be the cameras lack of a megapixel upgrade, which means pictures are a little less sharp than they might otherwise be, and the bright light performance isnt top - and that sounds like something that will be fixed in the imminent upgrade thats appearing in the shape of the HTC One M9. That said, its a minor point in a phone that has barely any flaws. The lower megapixel camera means faster shutter speeds, and if you dont want to zoom in a lot, most will enjoy the depth perception and background de-focus ability to make some pro-looking snaps. We urge you to hold this phone for a few seconds and try not to feel at least a small flicker of smartphone attraction. Its got great specs, a splendid design and some clever hardware innovation where the competition is relying on software to do the same thing. The Samsung Galaxy Note 4 and the Xperia Z3 failed to take the top spot, and the iPhone 6 didnt manage the feat either - so the big question now is whether the HTC One M9 can actually get much better than this. HTC One M8 review See the best HTC One M8 deals You might also like... If a phone isnt in the top 10 best phones in the world list, that doesnt mean its not worth giving two hoots about. Heres a few handsets you might want to think about should none of the above tickle your fancy... although youre clearly VERY hard to please: Samsung Galaxy S5 There was a lot of hype around the new Galaxy, and rightly so: it was by far the best phone Samsung has ever produced, with a blazing fast core, a strong result in the benchmarks and a larger 5.1-inch screen. Then theres the fact that with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 CPU, which is still a really good CPU for any smartphone, and even now the Galaxy S5 is one of the best phones on the market when it comes to battery life, besting the already impressive One M8 in the power stakes. The Note 4 is a better option now, if you can handle the size, though. Samsung has also dropped the innovation of the air gestures from last year (well, they are in there but not the main focus) and improved the hardware with a better camera, fingerprint scanner and heart rate monitor too. The last addition is pretty pointless... but hey, its fun for down the pub. Quick verdict The Samsung Galaxy S5 is a good phone, apart from the design. Its something that needs to be updated sorely, and while it doesnt have to be an all-metal shell, it needs to evolve. The S5 has a clear UI, powerful innards and is also waterproof... its by far not the best phone on the market any more, but its still a mean device thats now getting a much tastier price off contract. Samsung Galaxy S5 review See the best Samsung Galaxy S5 deals Nokia Lumia 930 Hey Nokia, (now Microsoft), nice flagship phone! The Lumia 930 does lack compared to the competition, but only in a couple of areas. Windows Phone is still a sub-par operating system for most people, thanks to the poorer apps and lower amount of control. But then again, for a lot of people the improved Office functionality and simple interface is a boon. The Lumia 930 is a strong phone in both design and power, although a little last-gen on the latter element, and coupled with a very capable camera, is a phone thats easy to recommend to those looking for something different. Quick verdict Windows Phone aside, theres a great deal on show here to make this a top-rated smartphone. The build quality is excellent and iconic, and the camera is powerful and results in mostly great snaps. We like that 32GB is on offer as the base model, and wireless charging built in is perfect. The price is pretty good too, and if youre a fan of Windows Phone there is nothing better right now. Nokia Lumia 930 review See the best Nokia Lumia 930 deals iPhone 5S Remember this? After the furore with the iPhone 6, its easy to forget that the Apple iPhone 5S is still alive and kicking. Its still a bit expensive, coming in at least £459 from Apple and contracts happily pushing over £30 a month, even with paying a little for the phone. That said, its sucked down the iOS 8 software pretty well, and is still pushing on as a decent option for a slightly cheaper iPhone, especially if you like the smaller sized screen. Plus, you can use it with the Apple Watch and pay for things on the go using the cunningly named Apple Pay - although for some reason TouchID wont be enabled to work online, where it will be for the iPad Air 2 and friends. Quick verdict An ageing phone but one that still deserves a look simply because Apple will support it for so long - its powerful enough to carry on for a few years yet. Its still the best option if you like a smaller screen on an Apple device, but the iPhone 6 is worth a look for the improved battery alone. Apple iPhone 5S review See the best iPhone 5 deals Sony Xperia Z2 Sony had something of a slump in 2013, following up the impressive Xperia Z with the lacklustre Xperia Z1 just a few months later. The camera, which was supposed to be the headline feature, didnt impress as much as wed hoped, and the screen was still lacking the IPS clout that the Xperia Z Ultra managed - meaning muted colours and poor viewing angles. Anyway, enough about 2013 - Sony mounted a comeback in 2014 with an excellent phone in the shape of the Xperia Z2. And the good news is its impressive. Really impressive. The industrial design is a little chunky but oozes premium quality in a way that Samsungs plastic shell doesnt, and its a little more robust than its Galactical rival thanks to being IP58 rated. Great battery life, strong power and a good camera all are present and correct with most phones in this list, but Sony stays in the top three simply by being a great all-rounder. It doesnt have the polish of the HTC One M8, nor the more functional UI, but it does whats asked with top-end specs. Thats what we like. Quick verdict What did Sony need to do to impress? Not a lot, but that screen and camera needed a fix as well as adding in some other features. Front facing speakers, a new screen with better colour reproduction, 4K video recording and inbuilt noise cancellation all make a great device that should be right on your possible upgrade list. Make sure you check it out in-store before purchase, as some wont like the larger build, but for a good all-round experience the Xperia Z2 excels. Sony Xperia Z2 review See the best Xperia Z2 deals Samsung Galaxy Alpha Another Samsung phone enters the fray, and its a slightly odd one: the Galaxy Alpha has a price tag thats even higher than the iPhone 6, and yet doesnt really out-spec it in many ways. That said, its still a premium phone. The second you hold it, youll feel that the updated metal design really works, with clever effort made to improve the way it feels in your hand. The 4.7-inch screen isnt as high-res as the rivals, but does the job well thanks to Super AMOLED technology making the contrast ratio and colours pop out. And the battery is removable - bonus! Quick Verdict Theres a lot to like about the way the Alpha looks, but there are some quibbles: why is there no microSD slot or larger capacity on offer to help out? Why does it cost so much? Is the metal band (and, to be fair, blazingly fast internal speeds) really enough to warrant a purchase? A really nice phone that needs a little more to be at the sharp end of this list: but if you want a premium-feeling Android phone with a strong camera, the Alpha is a great place to start. Samsung Galaxy Alpha review Best Samsung Galaxy Alpha deals LG G2 LG has made a phone that not only impressed us but ran the HTC One very, very close for the top spot in 2013 - and held a strong place into 2014 too. We dont know where to start in terms of extolling the virtues of this new handset from the South Korean firm: its got an insanely good screen, quality camera, the best audio pumping out from its speakers and headphone jack... the list goes on. We even came to tolerate, then love, the power and volume buttons being placed on the rear. These arent ideal, but the ability to knock on the screen makes it really easy to interact with this impressive device. The LG G3 is here now, and blows this out of the water in terms of price and power (its even got a next-gen QHD screen) but given the lower cost the G2 is still an excellent choice. Verdict Theres so much on offer here that we cant help but recommend it to anyone looking for a cheaper smartphone powerhouse. The only things that we dislike are the cluttered UI (pull down the notifications bar and youll see why) and the plastic casing, which drops the premium feel of the phone a lot, especially compared to the handset that sits one place above. But launching at £400 on PAYG (and even cheaper with a few third party retailers), along with comparable contracts older phones, is a really nice touch from LG, and we reckon its going to pay dividends. LG G2 review See the best LG G2 deals HTC One Its quite a tumble from the top spot for the HTC One, especially given it was our top smartphone for so long. However unless youre desperate to pay a little less per month, the newer One M8 does everything the original did, but so much better. Its nothing to do with the quality of the One – which is still one of the outstanding phones on the market – but more the fact that if you like Boomsound, and Ultrapixel camera, a sharp and bright screen or a powerful processor, the M8 has improved in every way there. But lets not forget what made this phone so great: the supreme aluminium chassis, the Full HD screen and the simplified version of Sense 5.0 sitting now on top of Android KitKat means its still a pleasure to use and recommend this handset - but again, only if price is your main driver and you simply must have a One. The innovations are also more than just marketing gimmicks; Zoe functionality allows the creation of delightful video highlight reels, and the Ultrapixel camera means youve got a much wider range of shots available thanks to being stunning in low light - and none of that is diminished with time. Quick Verdict With power, poise and beauty all combined in this innovative phone, HTC has proved it can still more than cut it with the big boys when it comes to bringing out a lust-worthy flagship smartphone. However, remember that this has one year fewer in terms of HTC promising to keep it upgraded, so if you pick it up now you might not get the newer versions of the software in 12 months time. The battery is also not as strong as on the One M8 - but its still got a lot to offer. HTC One review See the best HTC One deals Samsung Galaxy S4 Samsung managed to hold off HTC at the top in 2012, but in 2013 the supreme stylings of the HTC One proved too strong against a phone thats a slightly-better-version of its predecessor, especially when you consider the design. Theres a lot, a lot, to love with the Samsung Galaxy S4 though: whether its a powerful camera, a brilliant screen, a long-lasting battery or just a fluid experience, theres a lot you could want in a smartphone right here. The cost is a tad higher than on other smartphones, but still cheaper than iPhone level and is descending now the S5 is available. If only it was made out of something a little more premium... LG, Sony and Google have come out with some attractive propositions and overtaken the best the South Koreans can manage, but that hasnt stopped this being one of the most popular phones of 2013 and the price is ever lower. Quick verdict Theres no doubt that, despite the design criticism, this is one of the best smartphones ever made - its clear, powerful and does everything wed expect a flagship phone from Samsung to do. Its just a shame that the perceived innovation doesnt really add anything: motion gestures, smart scroll and its other non-contact bedfellows didnt take smartphones to the next level, which is what we needed in the face of Ultrapixels and BoomSound. Make no mistake though: youll love the Samsung Galaxy S4 if you choose to go for it, as its a decent phone with some really cutting-edge features - but remember theres something better thanks to the Galaxy S5. Samsung Galaxy S4 review See the best Samsung Galaxy S4 deals Samsung Galaxy Note 3 The Samsung Galaxy Note 3 breathes yet more life into a mobile form factor many thought would be dead on arrival, ramping up the specs and the size to give us a new monolith of mobile. It may be big, but the 5.7-inch display is fantastic and the Full HD Super AMOLED technology makes everything pop from websites to movies. Youre able to fit a lot more on screen at a time and that means less scrolling in messages, on websites and down your long contact list and that can only be a good thing. What really impressed us with the Galaxy Note 3 though was its battery life and sheer speed under the finger. Were used to a day at best when hardcore using the device, but we got far past that without breaking a sweat throughout our tests. The speed of the Snapdragon 800 quad core processor, combined with 3GB of RAM, means this is the least-slouchy phone weve encountered in a while. Quick verdict The Samsung Galaxy Note 3 is a great phone and if you were to own one you wouldnt be disappointed. It provides a great onscreen experience - as long as your hands are big enough to reach across it - and its stuffed so full of tech to almost warrant its lofty price tag - which refuses to tumble much. Its size will be a real stumbling point for many and wed recommend going into a store and just holding the Note 3 for a while to see if its something you can cope with - in short, we want all this but in a form that we can hold easily, at a lower price and without the S Pen. If thats you, then just go ahead and buy the Galaxy S5. Samsung Galaxy Note 3 review Compare the best Samsung Galaxy Note 3 deals Nokia Lumia 1520 The Nokia Lumia 1520 is a trailblazing 6-inch smartphone that forges a path for Windows Phone 8 into true high-end territory. And what a swathe this oversized phablet cuts - its huge. Its 6-inch 1080p display is a thing of beauty, and is a great way to watch videos and view photos on the go. Nokia has produced another excellent camera phone here, learning lessons from the Nokia Lumia 1020 and the Nokia Lumia 925 to produce a very well balanced snapper. However, theres also no denying that this is a ridiculously large phone, and whipping one out in public will be as embarrassing as it is tricky to wield for those who appreciate a little subtly and mobility from their phones. Quick verdict The Nokia Lumia 1520 is an absolute beast of a phone that we suspect only the large-handed and generous pocketed will be able to live with day to day. Those who accept the challenge will find the most capable Windows Phone 8 device yet, with top-of-the-range specs that include a stunning 1080p display and a superb 20-megapixel camera. Nokia Lumia 1520 review
Posted on: Mon, 26 Jan 2015 22:38:37 +0000