/Here are our rankings for the best mobile phones around, currently available in the UK.
20. Huawei Ascend P6
Huawei is something of a dark horse in the mobile phone world at the moment, thanks to the fact that it's one of the largest manufacturers but nowhere near the minds of most consumers when thinking about their next smartphone.
That changed slightly with the launch of the Huawei Ascend P6, a super-super-slim Android device that costs less than £300, comes with a quad core processor and generally looks the business in smartphone terms.
Huawei has taken an alternative approach to its Android overlay by scrapping the menu section, leading to a dump of widgets and apps all in one easy set of screens.
It's got a rather nice display and lightning quick operation, and has certainly turned some heads in the smartphone world.
Quick verdict
The Huawei P6 isn't the kind of phone that's going to challenge at the sharp end of our ranking, but it is a phone worth considering if you want top-end features at a reasonable price.
It's got a lot going for it, and the customisable themes are impressive too - we suggest you hold it in your hand before dismissing it as the design is just almost inexplicably thin.
19. Nokia Lumia 820
The Nokia Lumia 820 sits nicely at the crossroads between value and power. While it doesn't have the processor, camera or larger screen of its big brother the Lumia 920, it does have microSD storage, removable covers and a more attractive price tag - multiple reasons why you should like it.
New to Windows Phone? This is an affordable option for you. Don't want a Full HD screen? The Super AMOLED option on this is battery-friendly but still rather good. Want a fun camera? Multiple lenses are your friend here.
This is a well constructed, colourful handset with some excellent technological features, and it's got a really palatable price point to boot. It's been overshadowed by others in the range, but that doesn't mean it isn't still a class act.
Quick verdict
OK, it's not the best Windows Phone device out there. Many have better specs, and others have lower price points.
But the Lumia 820 can take a knock, has a decent battery and more importantly: doesn't cost the earth each month on contract. A perfect device for those thinking about getting a mid-term smartphone before upgrading to something with a little more grunt in the future.
18. BlackBerry Z10
BlackBerry is (sort of) back - there's no doubt about that after the huge launch of the BlackBerry Z10 and it's BB10 operating system. The lateness of said launch caused some to question the relevance of the phones, but it's still a phone that ticks a lot of boxes.
The BlackBerry Z10's Peek function, interesting camera features and ability to offer you a work and life balance will appeal to a lot of people who struggle to carry around two handsets when the office won't let you bring the iPhone in.
The Z10 has a quality finish as well as a clever interface, and the expandable storage, removable battery and Adobe Flash support are all small wins for the Z10 and will help as it tries to stand out in a crowded market.
Add in the presence of BlackBerry 10.2 to supercharge the OS (to some extent - improving the Priority Hub is a nice move) and you can see it's not game over for BB just yet.
Quick verdict
The Z10 is a decent smartphone offering up a strong range of features and a fancy new operating system that may catch the eye of the technologically adventurous.
It does pretty much everything we'd expect from a high-end device and there are no major flaws to go running to the presses about. It's only the lack of any real cutting-edge features to mark it out that keeps it from going higher in our list, so if you're all about BlackBerry, then this phone won't disappoint.
Sure, things aren't going well at the Canadian firm, which is why the handset is so far down our list - but in a vacuum, we'd wager a few more people would choose BB10 thanks to its slick operation under the finger.
17. Sony Xperia SP
The Sony Xperia SP is a phone that's flown a little under the radar in recent months: a phone with a decent spec list that can be had for a fair few quid under £300.
One of the main draws is the camera, where the range of settings and the quality of the images it produces were well beyond what we would expect from a smartphone at this price.
It's become an indispensable tool of any modern handset, and Sony has concentrated its efforts to make sure this part of the Sony Xperia SP really punches above its weight.
There are other things we really dig on the SP too: the inclusion of a microSD slot is always welcome, and the Walkman app makes a mid-range handset really shine for the music lover.
It's also packing 4G connectivity for speedy data on the go, which again is really rather nice for the price - in short, it's a handset that outperforms its price tag.
Quick verdict
The excellent camera and range of connectivity that includes NFC and 4Ggo hand-in-hand with a great design and a screen size that will be just right for someone that doesn't want a high-end 5-inch monster.
If you're on a budget, we'd consider it ahead of last year's high-flyers, and it's certainly better than a lot of other phones available at this hotly contested mid-range price point.
Heavy users could struggle with the moderate battery and mediocre processor, but if you want to save a bit of money and still own a smartphone that you can show off at parties or around the office, you could do a lot worse than picking up the Xperia SP.
16. Samsung Galaxy S4 Active
Want the Samsung Galaxy S4 but are too worried about dropping it in the bath or flinging it into a sand dune? Well, you can either not do either of those things, or buy the Samsung Galaxy S4.
With a powerful IP67 water and dust proof case the Active is far more hardy than a lot of the top end devices currently on the market.
The only other handset which can match the rugged credentials of the S4 Active is the Sony Xperia Z, (and Z1 successor, of course) although those being covered in glass front and back makes them feel far more fragile.
While the 5-inch display may not sport the Super AMOLED technology of the S4, the full HD resolution still makes for an excellent visual experience which is only really bettered by its namesake and the HTC One.
Quick verdict
If you're in the market for a super powerful smartphone which you can take on extreme activities, swimming and in the bath then sure the Galaxy S4 Active is the best around, although that's a pretty limited market.
And hey, chuck it in a bucket of water and your mates will be seriously impressed (honest).
We've only got this phone so far down on the list as we don't think huge amounts of users will be desperate to add the heft to an S4 to make it a bit more life proof, and that isn't going to be something most people will worry about.
But if you want the security of a phone that can withstand a few knocks but doesn't scrimp on the specs or usability, then you could do a lot worse than checking out the S4 Active.
- Samsung Galaxy S4 Active review
- See the best Samsung Galaxy S4 Active deals here
15. Samsung Galaxy S3
With the Samsung Galaxy S4 (and friends) now launched, the S3 has predictably fallen down the rankings thanks to there being a better phone to recommend.But don't worry: the S3 is still a strong phone: it's got every kind of feature we could ask for and more, and raised the bar once again in terms of what consumers should be expecting in terms of battery life, processor speed and media management.Would we recommend you buy one if you're hankering for a spot of Samsung? Yes, but only if you're trying to save money, as the S4 is a much better version of this phone indeed.Price isn't the only reason the Samsung Galaxy S3 is worthy of consideration though. Smart Stay, Super AMOLED HD screen, up to 128GB storage, Music Hub, removable battery, quick camera; for the price, this phone still delivers in ways that many others on the market can't.The design didn't impress us as much as when we first laid eyes on the S2, but that's the only big issue we could find - and it's proven popular enough for MILLIONS of you to have bought it thus far, showing that it's still a cutting edge smartphone for some.It looks like Android 4.2 is being skipped for the all-singing 4.3 version (for Galaxy Gear smartwatch compatibility), there's still life in this once-leading phone - just make sure you check out the S4 or Note 3 first.Quick verdict
If you're after a decent slab of Samsung tech, the Galaxy S3 won't disappoint. It's fast, it's sleek and it still packs some interesting and useful technology.Samsung faced an almost impossible task in trying to create a worthy sequel to the Galaxy S2, and while it's not longer top dog, it's at least getting more palatable in terms of price - plus is nimble enough to take down a number of newer phones too.14. Nokia Lumia 925
What's better than a top Windows Phone 7 handset? A Windows Phone 8 one, and we've got no qualms about telling you this is the best high-end Windows Phone out there.Simplicity is the key here, the Lumia 925 does the basics well, from contact integration and calling, to web browsing and messaging. The camera is market-leading, and offers excellent performance from low-light to jumpy videos.The 8.7MP PureView camera on the back of the Lumia 925 is actually one of the best we've used, and for anyone looking to get a top end cameraphone: you need to seriously consider this Nokia, although the recent glut of handsets (Sony Xperia Z1, HTC One, LG G2 and iPhone 5S) have all stepped up their game significantly to offer strong camera experiences too.The 4.5-inch display is also a good'un, crisp and clear it makes watching movies, surfing the web or Facebook stalking an enjoyable experience, thanks to the PureMotion HD technology on offer.And you can even use it with gloves on... what more could you want? You're right: hologram messages. But they don't exist yet.Quick verdict
The Nokia Lumia 925 is a worthy ambassador for Windows Phone 8 and probably a strong part of the reason Microsoft decided to acquire the Finnish handset division.It's not got the clout to take on the likes of the HTC One and Galaxy S4 just yet, but it's still a great choice if you're not sold on Android or iOS but don't want to give up a powerful phone.13. iPhone 5C
What's this? A new iPhone not making it into the top five? Wait... not even the top ten?Well, you can't really blame us. This isn't a new iPhone - it's last year's device in brand new package with more colours to choose from.There are more LTE bands to choose from too, which is important to UK buyers as it means it can give superfast speeds from all the networks.It's still a really rather good phone, with the Retina display still giving market-leading colour reproduction, a strong camera and the best App Store around.Quick verdict
We'll be honest: this is the place the iPhone 5 would have occupied since it's been usurped by the iPhone 5S.This is, in our eyes, essentially the same phone with a new skin. There will be loads of people looking to buy it simply because the iPhone now comes in pink or green, and to those we say: look at the Lumia range. Nokia's been doing the same thing for years and at a much, much cheaper price point.The iPhone 5C is the same as a every phone from Apple: too expensive for what it is, but if you're desperate for such a device from the Cupertino brand then this is still a strong handset to plump for.12. Samsung Galaxy Note 2
Many (including us, we admit) were not convinced when the originalSamsung Galaxy Note launched. Who on earth would want something so big to make their calls and surf the internet, even with a glorified stylus? Cue awkward silence.Millions of you, it would appear. The Galaxy Note sold by the bucketload, so how do you follow that up? With something better, of course - the Samsung Galaxy Note 2, which has shifted 20 million units worldwide, and now is the elder statesman thanks to the new Galaxy Note 3 appearing.Still a strong and eye-catching device, the Galaxy Note 2 is well-connected, and thanks to that increased screen size (up to an eye-bulging 5.5-inches), is, among many things, a quality media player.Samsung has achieved something special here, because it has made the Galaxy Note 2 bigger than the original, but pulls it off so that you don't notice it too much and anyway, it's the features that make it so amazing.Air View, Multi-window, a dock that can turn it into a fully-fledged computer - it's all here, people..Quick verdict
As a phone, it's big, but once you get over that, if you can, it's great. As a PMP, it really does excel, and as a web communicator, it's only beaten by the Note 3.Ultimately, there's no getting away from the fact that the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 is a niche device. But it does almost everything it sets out to do perfectly, with grace, class and maximum functionality. With a lower price, it's still powerful enough to last for at least a year or two, so we have no qualms recommending it as a viable option for your next phone.11. Sony Xperia Z
The Sony Xperia Z is no longer the top dog for the Japanese firm since the Xperia Z1 has launched. But when it came out, the handset was definitely the most impressive the firm has launched either in its current guise or as Sony Ericsson.You can see the Sony influence throughout the handset as it oozes quality and build from the large screen, which fits close to the edges of the bezel, to the intelligent camera that allows you to snap some really premium photos without needing to fiddle about with the settings.And it's water and dust resistant too, which makes it excellent for general life business. There's a certain freedom that comes from knowing that the heart-stopping moment of your phone falling in a pint of beer is gone for good.It's also packing a microSD card slot in an nicely-thin chassis, for which we laud the phone even higher. Add to that the Bravia Engine 2, (which is as much as you need - the Z1's Triluminous technology doesn't really further the message much further forward.)It doesn't run the Snapdragon 800 processor, but it does have a good spec list and uses them well - a crisper video experience, a more powerful camera, being waterproof, expandable memory are all great elements.Quick verdict
While it doesn't quite pack the clout of the phones from HTC and Samsung, the Xperia Z is a phone that says Sony is definitely back at the sharp end of the smartphone game.It's a shame it hasn't dropped in price much since its successor appeared, but there's still a lot of decent tech in a phone that's not even a year old.
Smartphones are a big market in today's world.
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