17. Huawei Ascend G330

• Reviewed on: 6 February 13
• RRP: £184 Amazon; From £10 per month (TalkTalk, 24-month plan, free handset)
• Rating:

The G330 is a useful update to the G300. Huawei's Ascend smartphone still offers incredible value at just £10 per month, and is now supplied with a faster dual-core processor, a front-facing camera for video chat, and a few design tweaks that make it a more appealing handset to carry around. Now running Android Ice Cream Sandwich, the Ascend G330 is slick and intuitive in use, and benefits from a few of Huawei's own interface tweaks to boot.

16. Motorola Razr HD

• Reviewed on: 15 April 13
• RRP: Around £400 inc VAT
• Rating:

The Motorola Razr HD offers superb build quality and battery life along with a nice screen and great battery life. However, its £400 asking price means that it's probably worth spending the extra for a rival flagship smartphone or saving some money by opting for the Google Nexus 4.

15. HTC One S

• Reviewed on: 9 May 12
• RRP: Handset free; from around £21 a month (Around £370 SIM free)
• Rating:

The HTC One S is an excellent mid-range smartphone option. It might not have the headline specifications of the One X but it outdoes it on performance and battery life. It does this in a more user friendly size, better build quality and a cheaper price tag.

14. Samsung Galaxy S3

• Reviewed on: 17 June 13
• RRP: From £29 per month; Around £500 SIM-free
• Rating:

The Galaxy S3 has turned out to be an excellent smartphone. It offers a good design and build quality, despite our small niggles. Samsung has put together an impressive set of hardware resulting in silky smooth performance and extensive software features. We can't give the number one spot to two smartphones, so the iPhone nudges it on a show of hands, but it really is a matter of personal taste. The S3 really is as good a smartphone as you can buy right now. Samsung Galaxy S3 vs Apple iPhone 4S comparison review.

13. Asus Padfone 2

• Reviewed on: 21 March 13
• RRP: £599 inc VAT
• Rating:

The Asus Padfone 2 is an interesting and unique offering. For £599 you get both a phone and a tablet in one although this has its limitations. Good hardware and excellent battery life are the standout features while build quality is a bit of a let-down. We really like the Padfone 2 but if you're looking to a smartphone and a tablet on the cheap then we suggest Google's Nexus devices.

12. LG Optimus G Pro

• Reviewed on: 29 May 13
• RRP: £229.95 inc VAT
• Rating:

LG’s Optimus G Pro is king of the small—but growing—phone/tablet hybrid market (I refuse to use the term “phablet”). It’s a performance powerhouse that, despite its large size, is relatively comfortable to use even with average-size hands. The G Pro loses a few points for its limited multitasking features, but if you’re looking to buy a large Android phone and aren’t dismayed by the underperforming camera, then the G Pro is definitely worth considering.

11. Motorola Razr i

• Reviewed on: 25 September 12
• RRP: £345 inv VAT
• Rating:

The Motorola Razr i is a great all-rounder smartphone. It offers a great combination of design and performance for a reasonable price. It's worth a look for its price and worthy of our recommended award.

10. Huawei Ascend Y300

• Reviewed on: 15 July 13
• RRP: £199 inc VAT
• Rating:

The Huawei Ascend Y300 is a no-frills smartphone with little to get excited about in dazzling new features. However, it does the basics well with Android 4.1 software with usable battery life at an incredibly low price. For the money, it's one of the best budget smartphone choices around.

9. Sony Xperia SP

• Reviewed on: 20 August 13
• RRP: £300 inc VAT
• Rating:

The Sony Xperia SP has the spec and price of a mid-range Android smartphone, but when you actually get the device in your hands and start using it any ideas of it being mediocre go out of the window. It really is a class act, so if you're looking for a good phone to browse the web, perform tasks quickly and take decent photos with at a price that won't break the bank, then you really should consider the Xperia SP.

8. HTC One X+

• Reviewed on: 23 January 13
• RRP: Around £450 inc VAT
• Rating:

With a newer version of Android, fixed build quality issues and significantly increased battery life, the One X+ is a polished and honed version of its predecessor. It's now an even better all-round quality smartphone with a reasonable price tag.

7. Samsung Galaxy S4 mini

• Reviewed on: 31 July 13
• RRP: Around £380 inc VAT
• Rating:

The Galaxy S4 mini is a great mid-range option, offering the same styling – which includes the same mediocre build quality – as its flagship counterpart, with a cheaper price tag. The cameras are good but the screen and storage are both under par. Consider the HTC One mini or the Nexus 4 as serious alternatives.

6. HTC one mini

• Reviewed on: 29 July 13
• RRP: £379
• Rating:

The HTC One mini isn't as good as the HTC One. Its performance is decent but not spectacular, and the addition of a layer of plastic has removed some of the original's chic. But this is a very strong handset at a decent price. Well worth a look.

5. Huawei Ascend P6

• Reviewed on: 16 August 13
• RRP: £309 inc VAT
• Rating:

The Huawei Ascend P6 is a fantastic and desirable smartphone, whether it's an iPhone copy or not. It provides real value for money even if it is lacking NFC and 4G support. We particularly like the cameras and the customisable user interface.

4. Samsung Galaxy S4

• Reviewed on: 11 July 13
• RRP: Around £500 inc VAT
• Rating:

The Galaxy S4 is a great phone with outstanding hardware and performance, but it's not flawless. We're disappointed with the build quality considering the handset costs a fair bit more than its rivals and while the S4 is packed with features we find a lot of them to be gimmicky.

3. HTC One

• Reviewed on: 22 August 13
• RRP: £529
• Rating:

The HTC One is up there with the very best smartphones on the market today. It has superb performance, and excellent build quality spoiled only slightly by running hot in use. You can't fault the feature set, and it matches the other high-end products in terms of price. In terms of audio and visual output it is unsurpassed. The interface might be an acquired taste for some, and we weren't overly impressed with the camera. It's not perfect, but alongside the Xperia Z and iPhone 5 this is about as good a phone as you can buy.

2. Google Nexus 4

• Reviewed on: 14 November 12
• RRP: £159 for 8GB
• Rating:

As long as the storage capacities suffice, the Nexus 4 is the definition of a bargain. You quite simply get the performance and features of a high-end smartphone for half the price you would expect to pay. Unless you're set on an iPhone, the Nexus 4 is an unbeatable deal.

1. Sony Xperia Z

• Reviewed on: 17 June 13
• RRP: £520 inc VAT
• Rating:

The Xperia Z is the first smartphone which Sony has really nailed. We love the stylish, desirable and rugged design. The combination of excellent performance, a stunning screen and great cameras make the Xperia Z a force to be reckoned with. There is very little to say about this phone that is negative.