With Christmas almost upon us and the air heavy with excitement and expectation, it’s time to think back over the year – and consider all the highs and lows that we’ve had with all the mobile phones of 2011.
Smartphones seemed to be growing on trees this year and with so many high-end devices being created, how can we possibly decide which ones deserve to be in the top 10?
Well, at Best Mobile Contracts we’ve been contemplating this for quite some time now, trying to decide which handsets are the best of this year.
And it wasn’t easy, but here it is: Our guide to the top 10 phones of 2011.
1. iPhone 4S
Yes, Apple’s latest iPhone may have disappointed some when it arrived instead of the long-rumoured iPhone 5 – but not us. And, as healthy sales of the 4S model have highlighted since its release, not you either.
With the same beautiful design as the iPhone 4, the iPhone 4S boasts numerous enhancements including a better camera, battery, processor and, of course, your very own personal assistant in Siri.
2. Samsung Galaxy S II
The successor to the original Galaxy S smartphone has sold like hot cakes since its release earlier this year. This is hardly surprising, when you consider the S II’s 4.3-inch Super AMOLED Plus display, 1.2GHz dual-core processor, 1GB of RAM, and Android OS.
3.Samsung Galaxy Nexus
The Galaxy Nexus only launched last month but has attracted a great deal of attention because of its design, advanced technology and Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich OS. Along with being the first smartphone to run on the ICS version of Android, the Galaxy Nexus features a super-slim frame, 4.65-inch Super AMOLED HD display, and dual-core 1.2GHz processor. Even Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak has one of these highly desirable handsets!
4. BlackBerry Bold 9900
An absolute gem of a BlackBerry phone, the Bold 9900 is RIM at its best – the well-crafted exterior is beautifully modern yet traditionally BlackBerry. The 9900 was the first to run on BB OS 7, and delivers a faster browser, NFC support and Liquid Graphics technology.
5. HTC Sensation
HTC’s flagship device is quite sensation-al thanks to a 4.3-inch Super LCD display, powerful 1.2GHz dual-core processor, 8-megapixel camera, Gingerbread OS and Sense 3.0. And it’s the original of a range HTC introduced this year, which includes the XE and XL models with Beats Audio technology onboard.
6.Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc S
Succeeding the original Arc, the Xperia Arc S builds on what was already an impressive smartphone. The Arc S has the same sleek and slim design but boasts some interior enhancements such as more power and a newer version of Android operating system.
7. LG Optimus 3D
While many can’t decide whether the Optimus 3D was a gimmicky device or simply cool, we think it’s groundbreaking enough to be in this year’s top 10. And LG was the first to release a glasses-free 3D smartphone, swiftly followed by HTC’s Evo 3D.
8. Motorola Defy+
Motorola managed to combine desirable features with toughness with its original Defy handset, and the Defy+ is a step higher in the desirability stakes, matched by a rugged exterior. You have to admit, it is quite refreshing to discover a high-end smartphone with all the bells and whistles you want, that can cope with everyday knocks and bumps – the Defy+ can handle water, dust and the odd shock, while still delivering easy access to Facebook.
9. Sony Ericsson Xperia Play
An exciting handset, especially for fans of mobile gaming, the Xperia Play is dubbed the PlayStation Phone for good reason. Featuring a 4-inch touchscreen and slide-out control pad (including the iconic square, circle, triangle and cross buttons), the Xperia Play comes with 6 games pre-installed to get you started and supports 3D gaming graphics. Game on, we say!
10. HTC Explorer
Compact and affordable, the HTC Explorer is not in the same league as the other premium devices. However, it punches above its weight and delivers a lot for a small price, which is why it deserves to feature in this year’s top 10. If you want Android Gingerbread OS, 3.2-inch display, a decent 600MHz processor, YouTube access, Wi-Fi support, capable 3-megapixel camera, apps, exchangeable back covers and Sense 3.5, then the Explorer is the phone for you – especially if you want it for less than £130.
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