You can see what we think are the best smartphone picks at any one time over on our Top 5 shortlist, but as they say, different strokes: if you’re confused by all the jargon, operating systems and specs, we’ve got a handy guide for you here to help you find the best telephone tailored to you right here.
You can see our current Best smartphone Top 5 over to the right, but read on and we’ll tell you what to look for, whatever your needs.
OS dilemma
It’s an incredibly competitive market right now for smartphones, and there are more rival software platforms for them than you can simply count on one hand: Android, iOS for iPhone, Symbian and all its variations, BlackBerry OS, webOS for Palm phones and even the upcoming Windows Phone 7.
Each one has different strengths and weaknesses. iOS for iPhone is incredibly slick and smartly simple enough for anyone to use, but you’re at the mercy of Apple when it comes to software you can download. Android is more open, with some incredibly innovative features like free turn by turn navigation and extensive voice commands, but certain versions can be tricky to get around, and there are far fewer must play games. BlackBerry OS is great for email, but until BlackBerry 6 comes out, even the best Blackberry phone, like the BlackBerry Bold 9700, is lumbered with an absolutely atrocious web browser.
For consumer casual use above anything else, we do prefer iOS and newer versions of Android above everything else right now, and suggest you start there when looking into what to buy – but as you can see from our Best Smartphone Top 5 list to the right of the page, just about every OS is worth a look in.
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Apps
The number of apps has become something of a size contest in the smartphone space, but the best smartphone for you isn’t necessarily the one with the most apps – which would be the iPhone, if you must know. While being able to listen to Spotify or stream video from wherever can be great, if you’re a heavy emailer or texter, we’d pick the best smartphone based on the core features in the OS rather than the sheer number of third party programs you can install. Just so long as you can check widely supported essentials like Google Maps and Facebook, you might prefer missing out on Angry Birds for the sake of a physical keyboard. Which brings us to…
Choose software, not specs
This is more important now than ever: the best smartphone for you should run like a champ, whatever price you’re willing to pay, without you having to wait around for it to load anything, or suffer bugs. You don’t have to compromise. The iPhone 4 may not shoot pictures with as high a resolution as two year old Samsung phones with 8MP sensors, but the speed at which it works will always make it preferable – the same goes for the 5MP Samsung Galaxy S. In the same way, a new Android phone and a BlackBerry might both have a 3G connection, but Android’s web browser is so much more efficient and useful, it’ll load pages quicker every time and let you zoom in on the info you need post haste.
Connectivity
OK, so you should still keep an eye on the specs when you’re scouting for the best smartphone, but more to watch out for what’s not included than what is. Ideally, you’ll want a phone that’s capable of connecting over 3G and Wi-Fi, and offers GPS location skills. Just about every top end smartphone packs all three, but some cheap and mid-range models can still leave one or the other out. Choose which is essential for you: you’d be surprised at how much you can still get done with a 2G only connection, but we’re not keen on being left without GPS, even if it’s just for an emergency.
As for ports: you shouldn’t have to settle for a phone that doesn’t have a 3.5mm audio socket to let you use your own headphones for music, while a micro USB port is very useful, as it’s increasingly becoming the standard for connecting and charging phones. MicroSD slots meanwhile let you add up to 32GB of external storage, which is great for loading up on music and video, but don’t fret too much if the handset you’re after has internal storage instead (or as well, as the best Android phones do): anything above 8GB will keep most people happy.
Touchscreen, buttons or both?
Touchscreen phones have been around for years now, but there’s a reason handsets with numberpads and QWERTY keyboard keep on coming too: they’re tried and tested if you like sending off reams of messages. The iPhone 4‘s keyboard is fantastic as touchscreens go, but some people simply prefer the tactile response of keys. If you think you fall in the latter category, the best smartphone for you might be one with a touchscreen and slide out keyboard, or even a traditional BlackBerry (avoid 0-9 numberpads though unless small size is an absolute priority). If you don’t use email much however, don’t be afraid to go touchscreen only, so long as it’s a capacitive display – they’re the ones that respond to finger prods rather than your nails. If you see a stylus, beware: it’s a resistive screen and it’ll drive you insane with henpecks.
Pick your price
The very best smartphone models at any one time are going to cost a lot: there’s no avoiding it. As well as paying upwards of £35 per month for two whole years, you might even have to pay upfront still for the privilege. If those sorts of figures are galling, don’t fret: make the odd sacrifice and you can find some of the very best smartphones for much cheaper. The HTC Legend, for instance, uses a smaller screen than the HTC Desire, but its software is everybit as sensational, and it can be had for as much as £15 less per month. If you’re prepared to accept a smaller or lower resolution screen, you might just save yourself a packet. Or shop around: you can do that right from our Mobile Deals page. That works too!
