10. OnePlus One
A seriously excellent smartphone for an astonishingly good price
OS: Android | Screen size: 5.5-inch | Resolution: 1920 x 1080 | Memory: 3GB |Storage:16GB/64GB | Battery: 3,100mAh | Rear camera: 13MP | Front camera:5MP
You've probably never heard of OnePlus... but if you have, you'll know why this unknown brand is suddenly sitting in our list of best smartphones in the world.
The reason is simple: it's a phone that has all the power, specs and functionality of the top dogs, adds in super-customisable software and does it at nearly half the price. We're talking big savings on cost (£229 for the 16GB version and £269 for the 64GB variant) without much in the way of compromise.
See more after the cut...
See more after the cut...
In fact, the only things it's really missing are a microSD slot and removable battery, and those are elements more for the purists than absolutely necessary.
If we're being super picky, it's not got the greatest camera set up and the design is a bit... efficient, but at this price point it really doesn't matter. And given the target audience is those that care about raw power over style, it makes sense that this is where the costs could be saved.
Quick verdict
We love the fact that a new contender can maintain such a high place in the ranking of the best phones in the world - it means that it's not just a case of 'big budget means best phone'.
We were debating whether the OnePlus One could even have gone higher, but there's one big problem that you'll have if you want to get your hands on one: they're impossible to find. Numbers won't ramp up for a while, and probably never to the level of availability of the better-known names.
But if you want a phone that offers supreme power at a really low cost: the OnePlus One is it. It's what the Nexus range used to be, and if Google ditches that program, then thankfully OnePlus has shown there will be brands to pick up the slack.
9. Moto X (2014)
The brilliant pure Android experience
OS: Android | Screen size: 5.2-inch | Resolution: 1920 x 1080 | Memory: 2GB |Storage: 16GB/32GB | Battery: 2,300mAh | Rear camera: 13MP | Front camera: 2MP
It's a big win for Motorola at the moment, now it's stolen in with two places in our rankings list. It feels like a smaller smartphone, despite packing a 5.2-inch screen, as the front is mostly all bezel.
That screen is one of the standout features here, as it not only has superb Super AMOLED clarity (courtesy of Samsung) but it also has the very clever Motorola Active Display, which lets you wave your hand over the screen to see vital info and then press to preview messages.
It's not got all the bells and whistles of most smartphones - for instance, there's no way to restart the phone and the camera is rather basic - but as a day to day device it's very strong.
Quick verdict
Don't think that just because the Moto X 2014 name didn't get much of a change that the phone is just a basic specs bump.
Motorola's new flagship smartphone proves that the reinvented company is listening to customer feedback with a bigger screen and aluminum metal frame, all for a price that's better than its competition.
It's not widely available yet in the UK, and it still could do with a microSD slot and a better camera, but for a phone that doesn't cost as much, allows you to customise nearly everything stylish about the design and works well, it's one of the best.
8. Sony Xperia Z3
A solid phone with a good screen and excellent battery life
OS: Android | Screen size: 5.15-inch | Resolution: 1920 x 1080 | Memory: 3GB |Storage: 16GB/32GB | Battery: 3,100mAh | Rear camera: 20.7MP | Front camera: 2.2MP
The Xperia Z3 has arrived a little too soon since the Z2 was launched, with not a huge amount of upgrades - but it's still a very nice phone.
The design is slimmed down and the screen is insanely bright, and you've still got all the lovely Sony gubbins, like Bravia tech in the screen and improved audio output.
The camera, sadly, hasn't been upgraded and still packs some of the inconsistencies we'd hoped would be ironed out by Sony's amazing camera team, and it's still not up the power of the others on the market. That said, with Remote Play now enabled, it's bounced up the rankings slightly.
Quick verdict
The Z3 is a brilliant phone with a few rough edges - if you like a powerful camera that rewards learning the intricacies and want a really bright screen (with Remote Play on top) then the Z3 is very much worth looking at.
7. Nexus 6
Google's best ever phone is also its biggest ever
OS: Android | Screen size: 5.96-inch | Resolution: 2560 x 1440 | Memory: 3GB |Storage: 32GB/64GB | Battery: 3,220mAh | Rear camera: 13MP | Front camera: 2MP
The new Nexus is here: good news, the camera is finally half-decent on a Nexus phone. Bad news, it's no longer a super-cheap superphone, hence it not landing higher up the rankings.
It does have an excellent screen, a very, very beefy Snapdragon 805 chipset to run nearly anything you want and the media capabilities are excellent. And that's without even talking about the fact it will be getting the latest Android upgrades thanks to being Google's flagship handset.
The only downside (and it's not going to be a hindrance to some people) is that it's got a whopping 5.96-inch screen. It's still roughly the same size as the iPhone 6 Plus, and if you prefer a smaller phone, it's based on the same design as the Moto X, thanks to being made by Motorola.
Quick verdict
The death of the Google Nexus program has been greatly exaggerated, and this year's stock Android phone ironically resulted in an exaggerated Moto X. Its tremendous display, premium specs and debut of Android 5.0 Lollipop make one of the best phablets to date.
It's not cheap, but it's the best Nexus ever made. And, when you think about it, you're not going to need to hold onto your money, as you'll require both hands to grab onto this two-handed monster.
6. Sony Xperia Z3 Compact
A small Android phone packed with large features
OS: Android | Screen size: 4.6-inch | Resolution: 1280 x 720 | Memory: 2GB |Storage: 16GB | Battery: 2,600mAh | Rear camera: 20.7MP | Front camera:2.2MP
Less powerful with a lower-res screen than its bigger brother? How is the Z3 Compact ahead?
Well, it's simple: this thing is all the power (well, mostly) of the larger model, with a smaller body. This means Remote Play for your PS4, a 20.7MP camera, the clear IPS LCD screen... it's got it all and it's much, much nicer to hold.
The price is a lot lower too, so unless you want the brightness of the Full HD screen nearly every other feature is in this smaller phone, meaning it will have less impact on your pocket - both literally and figuratively.
Quick verdict
The best of Sony in a smartphone - if that's what you're after, this is the phone to go for. It's the ergonomics and the price that impress, and while it's not quite got the spec sheet of the main Z3, it's a lot more polished for some reason.
On top of that it now packs Remote Play to make it a real winner if you're a PS4 owner - definitely one to check out if you fancy your power a bit more portable.
5. iPhone 6 Plus
Apple's first bigscreen phone is a stunner
OS: iOS 8 | Screen size: 5.5-inch | Resolution: 1920 x 1080 | Memory: 1GB |Storage:16GB/64GB/128GB | Battery: 2,915mAh | Rear camera: 8MP | Front camera: 1.2MP
While not quite as impressive as the smaller version, the first Apple phablet is jam-packed with things to love.
The Plus takes all the best bits of the iPhone 6 - design, beautiful UI, strong camera performance - and improves upon them by packing an even better camera, a Full HD screen and much larger battery.
The drawbacks are few, but pivotal: it's a little harder to hold in one hand thanks to being a little too wide, plus it's a lot more expensive. But with the same internal power, great graphical performance and access to Apple's amazing media / app library, this tablet-phone hybrid is perfect for those that can't decide between the two formats.
Quick verdict
While the ergonomics of this phone aren't brilliant, there's another reason it's below the LG G3 and others: the price. It's very, very expensive and you'll have to really be up for a phone of this calibre, and really want the extra space to merit a purchase.
Of course, if you're an Apple fan and want a bigger iPhone, then you should shut your laptop or throw down your tablet immediately and run down to buy one of these (providing you can afford it, of course). It's a great phone made larger, and improved along the way too.
4. Samsung Galaxy Note 4
Samsung's latest phablet is the best big screen phone available
OS: Android | Screen size: 5.7-inch | Resolution: 2560 x 1440 | Memory: 3GB |Storage: 32GB | Battery: removable 3,220mAh | Rear camera: 16MP | Front camera: 3.7MP
Hello Samsung. Nice to see you back up the list - and with the Note 4, the brand has managed to pack so much into the (well, still large) frame.
The main thing is the screen: Super AMOLED technology combined with QHD resolution means a pin sharp display, and one that we just can't take our eyes off.
The camera is nice, the power is next-gen and the whole thing is backed up by the ever-more-useful S Pen to help you clip and jot all day.
Quick verdict
While it's got a big hold over the LG G3 in many ways, it can't compete on price with the South Korean rival - and that's the big drawback for this phablet.
But it's the closest phablet to the 'average' smartphone we've seen so far, and it packs the most into that limited palm space. Well done Samsung - here's hoping the Galaxy S6 is even more impressive.
3. LG G3
A superb flagship phone for an excellent price
OS: Android | Screen size: 5.5-inch | Resolution: 2560 x 1440 | Memory:2GB/3GB | Storage:16GB/32GB | Battery: removable 3,000mAh | Rear camera:13MP | Front camera:2.1MP
The LG G3 needed to be good, as it was based on the hard work of the G2, which was a strong, well-made phone that didn't cost a huge amount of money.
So what does LG do with the G3? Goes and sticks the world's sharpest display on there (well, there are others now, but it was first).
It's a QHD screen, which means it's got four times the pixels of some phones on this list, and it also comes with a number of other enhancements too - although with those extra pixels packed in, the display is a tiny bit darker than others on the market.
Laser-based auto-focus? Check. Improved design? Check. Overhauled and simplified UI? Double check. It's going to be a little bit too big for some hands, as it's packing in a 5.5-inch screen, so we're verging on phablet territory.
But don't let that take away from a terrific phone, one that has a sleek, refined air about it and adds in fan favourite features like a removable battery and memory card slot, where both were missing on the predecessor.
Quick verdict
The screen on the LG G3, when used properly to display high-resolution content, is immense… LG knew that, and has been rightly making a big deal about it.
The overall design of the phone is vastly improved too, with the faux-metal cover not necessarily feeling great but certainly looks the part when laid on a table.
The camera is powerful too, leading to some great snaps and won't let you down when you need to just capture the moment here and there. And it's really dropping in price now, too.
In short, it's a necessary step on LG's quest to make the ultimate smartphone... if you want the best display out there with a good enough battery and strong camera, this is your next phone.
2. iPhone 6
Bigger, better, sleeker and faster than the iPhone 5S
OS: iOS 8 | Screen size: 4.7-inch | Resolution: 1334 x 750 | Memory: 1GB |Storage: 16GB/64GB/128GB | Battery: 1,810mAh | Rear camera: 8MP | Front camera: 1.2MP
The iPhone 6 - a real step forward for Apple and a phone that's a real joy to use, hold and feel.
It's got all the same ingredients that make iPhones special: while it doesn't excel in any given part of the smartphone recipe (except perhaps when it comes to the interface, which with iOS 8 is probably the best out there with it's clever mix of intuition and simplicity) it just works.
The camera is lower-res but fast and bright and easy to use. The screen is too low-res compared to the phones around it, but pops and fizzes with colour and brightness.
And that design - we have to keep coming back to it as it feels beautiful in the hand.
Quick verdict
Why is the iPhone not number one? Simple: price, combined with a lower-res screen. The phone that does everything well in a great package is brilliant, but not significantly more than anything out there, which means you can't justify the higher tag.
And if you are paying that much, we'd expect it to be a brilliant, top-spec phone, which it isn't when it comes to the display.
But don't let that put you off: if you're in the market for an iPhone, or just been tempted by one in the past: buy this one. It's excellent, a pure joy to use.
1. HTC One M8
A stunning phone with very few flaws
OS: Android | Screen size: 5-inch | Resolution: 1920 x 1080 | RAM: 2GB |Storage: 16GB/32GB | Battery: 2,600mAh | Rear camera: 4MP dual | Front camera: 5MP
What to say about the HTC One M8? They often say the second album is the hardest, but the follow up to the all-conquering HTC One takes the best of that phone and yet still re-invents things enough to make it a massive recommendation over the old model.
We love the speed of the camera, the Duo Camera is smart as a tack, the Boomsound upgrade is impressive and the design... well, you have to hold it.
The Snapdragon 801 processor has boosted battery dramatically compared to the 600 of last year, and that means that photos also process much more quickly as well - even the front-facing camera is much better.
Gaming, movies, photography, browsing all work really well, and in a phone that that's easily going to destroy whatever anyone else can design. LG ran it close with the G3 but ultimately wasn't the best package, and the iPhone 6 still suffers on price and, inexplicably, a lower-res screen.
Quick Verdict
If we were to criticise the One M8, it would be the camera's lack of a megapixel upgrade, which means pictures are a little less sharp than they might otherwise be, and the bright light performance isn't top - and that sounds like something that will be fixed in the imminent upgrade that's appearing in the shape of the HTC One M9.
That said, it's a minor point in a phone that has barely any flaws. The lower megapixel camera means faster shutter speeds, and if you don't want to zoom in a lot, most will enjoy the depth perception and background de-focus ability to make some pro-looking snaps.
We urge you to hold this phone for a few seconds and try not to feel at least a small flicker of smartphone attraction. It's got great specs, a splendid design and some clever hardware innovation where the competition is relying on software to do the same thing.
The Samsung Galaxy Note 4 and the Xperia Z3 failed to take the top spot, and the iPhone 6 didn't manage the feat either - so the big question now is whether the HTC One M9 can actually get much better than this.
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