Top of the class
Thinking about trading in your old smartphone? Make sure you read our buyer’s
guide to the best newmodels around
teacher’s pet
APPLE IPHONE 5S
From £549
apple.com
For the first time, there are
two current models of
iPhone. Although the 5C is a
credible option, the smart
money’s on the 5S. Even
without the novelty of a
thumb scanner, it’s a true
speedster, packs a far better
camera and showcases
Apple’s revamped iOS
software with aplomb. Rivals
might be encroaching on the
iPhone’s territory in pure
hardware terms, but its
ecosystem of apps and
gizmos remains peerless.
This is the safe choice, aside
from the eye-watering price.
cheap as chips
NOKIA LUMIA 520
£100
nokia.com
Deliver a dollop of festive
cheer on a budget with the
Lumia 520. This entry-level
Nokia provides much of
the goodness of Windows
Phone 8 software for a very
decent price. The bright
4in (10.16cm) screen can
still be tapped upon with
gloved hands and it feels
far from cheap, despite
the lack of a front camera.
For those not fussed by
app choice, this is a winner.
Its biggest rival may prove to
be the Nokia 525 (which
wasn’t yet out when we
went to press).
class geek
LG G2
£449
lg.com
Those itching for a truly
potent handset will find little
to grumble about with the
G2. This is a monster in
most respects, from its raw
app-munching power to its
5.2in (13.2cm) display, which
is as sumptuous as it is huge.
The buttons are, oddly, on
the back of its casing, which
is plastic. However, unlike
some rivals, this doesn’t
creak even if twisted. The
G2’s alpha-phone status may
be usurped by the Google
Nexus 5, also by LG, but
at time of going to press it
hadn’t yet been launched.
small wonder
HTC ONE MINI
£349
htc.com
The full-fat HTC One was the
first Android handset to truly
challenge Apple’s gadget-
design kudos and many
consider it the best phone
in the world. This is a new
cut-down version, but don’t
be fooled by a name – the
mini is actually slightly larger
than an iPhone 5S. It brings
most of its sibling’s merits
to the party, including that
de-luxe metal chassis,
at a lower price and with
surprisingly few trade-offs,
despite mild gripes such as a
modest memory and shorter
battery life.
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