Group test: what's the best smartphone?

The Top 5 smartphones reviewed

By PC Advisor staff | PC Advisor | 27 May 11

PC Advisor selects the best 5 smartphones available in the UK right now, using our hundreds of mobile phone reviews to choose the best blend of price and performance. And when you've found the phone you like, compare mobile phone deals to get the best tariff. Updated 27 May 2011.

5. BlackBerry Bold 9780

BlackBerry Bold 9780
  • Reviewed on: 28 February 11
  • RRP: Price depends on contract
  • Rating: Rated 8 out of 10

For current BlackBerry users who aren't interested in a touchscreen device, the BlackBerry Bold 9780 comes highly recommended: it possesses a great keyboard, best-in-class email capabilities and a refreshing new interface. However, it offers little incentive for others to switch to the BlackBerry platform.

4. Samsung Omnia 7

Samsung Omnia 7
  • Reviewed on: 31 March 11
  • RRP: Price depends on contract
  • Rating: Rated 9 out of 10

The Samsung Omnia 7 is a Microsoft Windows Phone 7 smartphone. A fantastic-looking Windows-based smartphone we’d be proud to pull out our jacket pocket, the Samsung Omnia 7 shows just how good photos and videos can appear. Although it’s slightly larger than we’d like, it’s only the underwhelming camera that prevented us awarding the Samsung the crown in this category.

3. Samsung Nexus S

Samsung Nexus S
  • Reviewed on: 22 March 11
  • RRP: From free depending on contract; £550 unlocked
  • Rating: Rated 9 out of 10

We can see why Google chose the Samsung handset design to show off its Gingerbread 2.3 OS – unlike the many HTC and LG devices, it’s distinctive. Judged against the stunning Desire HD, however, the Google Nexus S is unable to convince us of its supremacy.

2. HTC Desire HD

HTC Desire HD
  • Reviewed on: 22 March 11
  • RRP: £414.11 inc VAT
  • Rating: Rated 9 out of 10

The HTC Desire HD has a fantastic screen, good multimedia and web-browsing credentials and very good battery life. Its Sense interface is a welcome addition not seen on other makers’ handsets.

1. Apple iPhone 4

Apple iPhone 4
  • Reviewed on: 29 July 10
  • RRP: Dependent on contract and mobile provider, also available SIM-free from £499 (16GB) and £599 (32GB)
  • Rating: Rated 9 out of 10

Apple's fourth-generation smartphone really is its best yet, notwithstanding controversy about external antennae. In our tests, reception was outstanding. Its screen is the highest resolution of just about any screened gadget, with amazing colour and definition. An HD video/5Mp stills camera is joined by front-facing camera for Facetime video chats. Longer battery life (up to three days in real-life use), faster processor, multi-tasking OS and an incredibly responsive multitouch display are adjuncts to what is still the easiest and most intuitive phone ever made. An unrivalled smartphone against any other.

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