Our verdict on the best Android phones - constantly updated
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's cut the Ericsson ties but still is cranking out the Google-branded handsets. Then you've got Android-powered phones from Acer, LG, Huawei, Motorola, ZTE and many others, and while HTC has ceased the practice of releasing more phones than centipedes have shoes (they do wear them, you know) it's still one of the more prominent Android manufacturers.
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? If so, you won't find much luck here, as those technologies are sadly phased out of the Android world as buyers get enamoured by fancy, glossy capacitive touchscreens.
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 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 best Android phones money can buy today. For many, many different reasons.
#10 Samsung Galaxy S4
The Samsung Galaxy S4 still has a lot to offer, but as you can see it's taken a tumble down the rankings now it's successor, the Galaxy S5, is on the scene.
Its plastic body means it feels far from premium, but the on screen experience is still strong and there's plenty of grunt under the hood to keep everything running smoothly.
You'll also find Android 4.4 KitKat now residing on the handset and the price has dropped since the S5 appeared, making the Galaxy S4 a more affordable option.
Quick verdict
It may be over a year old now, but if your budget can't stretch to one of 2014's flagship devices the Galaxy S4 is still a very capable device.
The heavy TouchWiz overlay and vast array of Samsung bloatware may put some people off, but you're unlikely to be disappointed considering the lower price.
#9 Motorola Moto G
The Moto G rocks up with a 4.5-inch 720p display, punchy 1.2GHz quad-core processor, 1GB of RAM and pure Android 4.4 KitKat on board.
Add to that a 5MP camera, the choice of 8GB or 16GB of internal storage and connections such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and GPS, and you've got a pretty decent mid-range handset. But wait...
... take a look at the price tag and you'll be astounded by how little the Motorola Moto G will set you back - £130 SIM-free, or £100 on PAYG, it's a steal.
It's not all good news, there's no microSD slot, NFC or removable battery, but these are relatively minor points which can be easily overlooked thanks to the low price.
Quick verdict
If you're looking for the best budget smartphone on the market then look no further, for the Android 4.4 toting Moto G gives you more than enough bang for your buck.
#8 HTC One
Before you all bust a spleen about the HTC One's mighty tumble from top spot hear us out. Unless you're desperate to pay slightly less per month, the new HTC One M8 does everything the One does - just a whole lot better.
If you've got your heart set on HTC's Sense UI, its Ultrapixel camera, or the sultry premium design you're better off spending a little bit of extra cash and nabbing yourself the superior One M8.
That said, if your budget really can't stretch that far the HTC One is still an accomplished handset which feels great in the hand and works wonderfully well - although the battery life can be a little hit and miss
Quick Verdict
The original One still deserves its place in the top ten, but 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.
#7 Sony Xperia Z1 Compact
We said that the HTC One Mini is best down sized flagship around, and at its price point it is, but if you're willing to spend a little extra cash the Sony Xperia Z1 Compact is well worth considering.
Unlike the One Mini and Galaxy S4 Mini, Sony hasn't reduced the specs of the Xperia Z1 Compact. Instead it's kept the same 2.2GHz quad-core processor, 2GB of RAM, Adreno 330 GPU, and 20.7MP camera from the Xperia Z1 and squashed it all into a smaller package.
The one thing that does suffer is the screen, which is pushed down to 4.3 inches and sees its resolution slashed from full HD to 1280 x 720 - that's still better than an iPhone.
Quick verdict
Want a top-end Android handset without the bulk? Look no further - the Sony Xperia Z1 Compact offers up an excellent array of specs in a package which is similar in size to theiPhone 5S.
#6 Google nexus
The Google Nexus 5 is certainly a phone for the Android purists, as well as anyone who wants a flagship handset, but doesn't fancy parting with hundreds and hundreds of hard earned pounds.
Android 4.4 KitKat, a full HD 4.95-inch display, quad-core processor and 2GB of RAM means the Nexus 5 is set up nicely to please most users, but it's not without its flaws.
First up there's the average battery life which means it struggles to last a whole day, while the 8MP camera on the rear offers up substandard performance for what is essentially a top-end handset.
Quick verdict
If you're after a top Android handset, but don't have the budget to stretch to the likes of the HTC One M8 or Sony Xperia Z2, then you can't really go too wrong with the Google Nexus 5.
#5 LG G2
The LG G2 was one of the unsung heroes of 2013, and even now in 2014 it manages to sneak its way into fourth spot.
That's partly thanks to the LG G3 not being available just yet - but it's coming very soon - and partly thanks to the excellent performance and value it offers almost a year on.
Since being upgraded to Android 4.4 KitKat battery life on the G2 has improved, putting it ahead of the Galaxy S4 and HTC One, while the full HD 5.2-inch display keeps it in line with this year's flagships.
The external design's rather a mixed bag though, looking like your usual black slab from the front, but shocking everyone with LG's bonkers decision to put the power button bang in the middle of the back of the phone.
Quick verdict
An insanely powerful phone that still has an awful lot to offer at its new lower price, with the impact only slightly lessened by LG's oddball button placement and occasionally mad software additions.
#4 Samsung Galaxy S5
The Samsung Galaxy S5 is a top phone, that's why it's made it into the top four, and it's jam packed full of tech to keep your on the cutting edge.
It's got a fantastic 5.1-inch display, super fast Snapdragon 801 processor and a high performing 16MP camera.
There are also some more unusual additions including a fingerprint scanner hidden beneath the home key, a dust and waterproof chassis and a heart rate monitor on the back - pretty pointless but fun to show off.
The Galaxy S5 loses marks for its all plastic design which results in it feeling a little toy like, and the heavy TouchWiz UI which comes with a whole heap of bloatware.
Quick verdict
If you opt for the Galaxy S5 you will be very happy with what you get - especially if you're a Samsung fan - but it you want something which feels as premium as its price tag take a look at the top two entries.
#3 OnePlus One
It's probably safe to say that the OnePlus One took almost everyone by surprise. It arrived with little fanfare from a new company, yet it turns out it's one of the top three phones on the planet.
With a full HD 5.5 inch display, 2.5GHz quad-core processor and 3GB of RAM it's got the specs to compete with anything else out there, but what really makes it stand out is the price, because at just £229 SIM-free it beats out the Nexus 5 as the best value high end phone available.
In fact it's roughly half the price of competitors like the HTC One M8 and Samsung Galaxy S5, so with that in mind it's easy to forgive the lack of a microSD card slot and the questionable call quality, and with its tweakable CyanogenMod OS it's even a little bit different.
Quick Verdict
When it comes to sheer value for money it's hard to beat the OnePlus One. Its build might not be as high end as the HTC One M8 but for what it costs we're surprised it even has a screen.
Speaking of the screen, it might be a little on the large side for some users and price aside the phone isn't quite up to the standards of the HTC One M8 or the Sony Xperia Z2, but it sure comes close.
#2 Sony Xperia Z2
Sony's back in 2014 with an excellent phone in the shape of the Xperia Z2. And the good news is it's impressive. Really impressive.
The industrial design is a little chunky but oozes premium quality in a way that Samsung's plastic shell doesn't, and it's a little more robust than its Galactical and Primary rivals thanks to being IP58 rated.
Great battery life, strong power and a good camera all are present and correct with our new top three phones, but Sony steals second simply by being a great all-rounder. It doesn't have the polish of the HTC One M8, nor the more functional UI, but it does what's asked with top-end specs. That's what we like.
Quick verdict
With front facing speakers, a new screen with better colour reproduction, 4K video recording and inbuilt noise cancellation the Xperia Z2 is a great device that should be right on your possible upgrade list.
Make sure you check it out in-store before purchase, as some won't like the larger build, but for a good all-round experience the Xperia Z2 excels.
#1 HTC One M8
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 HTC One M8 is an excellent package
The Snapdragon 801 processor has boosted battery dramatically, 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 that's easily going to destroy whatever anyone else can design, unless Apple or LG have got some dark sorcery up their sleeves when the iPhone 6 or LG G3 appear later in the year.
Quick verdict
The only way to know how good the HTC One M8 is, is to go into a store, pick it up and hold it for a few minutes. Take in the design, listen to the BoomSound speakers and glide around the Sense UI.
Of course the One M8 won't be for everyone, and the Xperia Z2, OnePlus One and Galaxy S5 are seriously tempting propositions - but anyone looking for the perfect fusion of design and features need look no further.
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