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What's the best mobile phone? Our verdict on the best smartphone / best phones - constantly updated

We've all got at least one mobile phone each, right? The trouble is, how do you decide which is the best one for you?

If you've read our list of the hottest pre-release new mobile phones and are still stumped, well, this is where we make it easy. Because here we have our continually-updated comparison of the top best smartphones you can get in the world.

Here are our rankings for the best mobile phones around, currently available in the world.

TOP10. Motorola Razr
Don't be thinking you've got caught in a time vortex - the Motorola Razr of old is back, but in a totally new form factor.

The Motorola Razr is one of those phones that, like the Atrix, we instantly looked forward to when we saw it launched.

A super thin body, oodles of RAM, Kevlar casing and a top end processor are all things we want to see in a phone of this ilk, and it's good to see Moto attempting to compete with the likes of Samsung and Apple.


TOP9. Desire S
The Desire S has surprised us all with its popularity - decent price drops already have seen it become a valuable proposition and place it as a good HTC alternative to the dual-core power of the HTC Sensation.

Excellent call quality, a decent camera, strong build and clever-as-ever social networking integration make this a class-leader once more, despite it no longer being the HTC top dog since the Sensation has landed.

TOP8. Nokia Lumia 800
The Nokia Lumia 800 is the Finnish firm's first handset to use Windows Phone, and it's been a quite success - a million devices have been sold worldwide so far.

The size, shape and weight of the Nokia Lumia 800 provides a quality feel, and is a unique shape compared to many other phones on the market.

The GUI feels intuitive with a very impressive speed of response, providing a continuity of feel between applications.


7. Samsung Galaxy Nexus
The first 'Google phone' to come without the search giant's branding, the Samsung Galaxy Nexus is meant to be the device that preaches the power Ice Cream Sandwich to the awe-struck Android masses.

There's something great about having a 'pure Google' phone and the show-off factor is strong here since few will be able to get their hands on this. It's got a fantastic screen, a superb new OS and extra elements like Android Beam for sharing photos, contacts or (in the future) connecting to peripherals.

And as a smartphone or even mini computer, it's a great size with a nice weight that doesn't feel too cumbersome to carry or use.


TOP6. BlackBerry Bold 9900
RIM's been in the doldrums a little in 2011, but that hasn't stopped it doing what it does best: bringing out the industry's top messaging devices.

The Bold 9900 is the best BlackBerry ever created, with a solid chassis, easy to use keys, a superbly hi-res screen and touch capabilities too.

The internet is faster (although not market leading), the camera has been improved and NFC capabilities push the Bold 9900 into next generation territory.
TOP5. Sony Ericsson Xperia Ray
Sony Ericsson has had something of a smartphone reboot in 2011, with the likes of Xperia Arc and Xperia Mini proving big hits.

But there's another winner from the soon-to-be-just-Sony brand, with the Xperia Ray winning more than a few admiring glances.

It's got the innards of the Arc, plus the same pixel count - in a much smaller screen. That means the display is pin sharp, and while a little small compared to the competition, it's a very pocketable affair indeed.


4. Sony Ericsson Arc S
When we talk about a Phoenix Phone, it will forever be the Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc, and despite only being a few months old, it's already been upgraded to the Xperia Arc S, which makes things even better than the original and firmly deserves its place in the top 5 mobile phones.

From the beautiful Reality Display with Bravia Engine to the powerful-yet-simple 8.1MP camera with Exmor R technology, this is one of the phones that people actually want to hold and play with when you show it off - plus it now boasts a 3D panorama mode, although you have to hook it up to a compatible big screen TV to view.


3. HTC Sensation XE
We know it's terribly geeky, but the battle between the HTC Sensation and the Samsung Galaxy S2 was one we were salivating over.

Both are dual core powerhouses, both have cutting-edge software and both the brands behind them have been enjoying success with Android in recent times.

The HTC Sensation is a cracking piece of kit despite being behind the S2 (and now the iPhone 4S), with Sense 3.0 being a real joy to use.

TOP2. iPhone 4S
You might have noticed that Apple recently announced a new phone - it's the iPhone 4S though, and not the iPhone 5 as many were expecting.

But a phone by any other name would smell as sweet, and despite being identical in looks to the iPhone 4, there's enough here to warrant its high place in our rankings.

Siri voice recognition has shown itself to be more than a novelty, the dual-core processor has made phone operation even slicker and we're salivating over what the seven times more powerful graphics chip will be able to do.


1. Samsung Galaxy S2
Did you think it could hold onto the crown and see off the challenge of the iPhone 4S? Well, despite Apple releasing its best smartphone to date, we still have to recommend Samsung's challenger for its mix of good looks and functionality.

What we love about the Samsung Galaxy S II is the sheer amount of stuff that's packed in under the chassis - but more important is the way Samsung has used all that tech to create a phone that just works near-flawlessly.