Android Phone Deals
Compare the best smartphones with Google's Android operating system. All prices checked today.
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| Minutes | Data | Phone cost | Tariff | Contract | Effective cost The average theoretical monthly cost after adding in the handset cost and then deducting all available cash back and line rental discount. Doesn't factor in the value of any free gifts. For comparison guidance, hope it helps! | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
 Unlimitedtexts |
200 per month | UNLIMITED(fair use policy of 500MB) | FREE | £21.50/mth | 24 months |
£21.50/mth |  |
|
Info O2 + All-Rounder (500MB), unlimited texts
Handset colour White   |
||||||||
| 2 |
 Unlimitedtexts |
200 per month | 250MBper month | FREE | £21.50/mth | 24 months |
£21.50/mth |  |
|
Info O2 + 250MB, unlimited texts
Handset colour Black |
||||||||
| 3 |
 Unlimitedtexts |
300 per month | UNLIMITED(fair use policy of 750MB) | FREE | £26/mth | 24 months |
£26/mth | |
|
Info T-Mobile Internet (750MB), unlimited texts
Handset colour Black  |
||||||||
| 4 |
Unlimitedtexts |
300 per month | UNLIMITED(fair use policy of 500MB) | FREE | £27/mth | 24 months |
£27/mth | |
|
Info O2 + All-Rounder (500MB), unlimited texts
Handset colour Black |
||||||||
| 5 |
 500 textsFREE |
100 per month | UNLIMITED(fair use policy of 500MB) | FREE | £21.50/mth | 24 months |
£21.50/mth | |
|
Info O2 + All-Rounder (500MB), 500 texts per month
Handset colour Black |
||||||||
| 6 |
 Unlimitedtexts |
100 per month | UNLIMITED(fair use policy of 750MB) | FREE | £21/mth | 24 months |
£21/mth | |
|
Info T-Mobile Internet (750MB), unlimited texts
Handset colour Black |
||||||||
| 7 |
 Unlimitedtexts |
200 per month | UNLIMITED(fair use policy of 500MB) | FREE | £21.50/mth | 24 months |
£21.50/mth | |
|
Info O2 + All-Rounder (500MB), unlimited texts
Handset colour Black |
||||||||
| 8 |
Unlimitedtexts |
300 per month | 250MBper month | FREE | £21/mth | 24 months |
£21/mth |  |
|
Info T-Mobile Internet 250MB, unlimited texts
Handset colour Black |
||||||||
| 9 |
 Unlimitedtexts |
200 per month | UNLIMITED(fair use policy of 500MB) | FREE | £21.50/mth | 24 months |
£21.50/mth | |
|
Info O2 + All-Rounder (500MB), unlimited texts
Handset colour Black |
||||||||
| 10 |
Unlimitedtexts |
200 per month | UNLIMITED(fair use policy of 500MB) | FREE | £21.50/mth | 24 months |
£21.50/mth | |
|
Info O2 + All-Rounder (500MB), unlimited texts
Handset colour Black |
||||||||
Loading results...Buyers' Guide: the Android phone
Mobile phones, smartphones, 3G phones, touchscreen phones - everywhere you look there is a new handset on the horizon and, if you've never owned one before, this sheer volume of numbers can be more than a little bewildering.
What's more, the new generation of phones and handsets that have become available are an increasingly sophisticated breed, with way more features and a much more powerful specification than would ever have been found on any of the earlier mobiles that were essentially just a standard phone without the trappings and limitations of a landline.
Now, thanks to advances in technology and the ability to cram a lot more sophistication inside a small area, the modern-day smartphone is often more akin to a small personal computer than anything you'd use to make calls on. A lot of this revolves around the way the device works, and this is reliant on the operating system, in much the same way as a PC runs on Windows or an Apple computer runs on OSX.
All about Android phones
While we've all heard of the Apple iPhone, which is raved about by many who love phones, handsets, gadgets and designer style, that has its very own operating system. While it works very well, and indeed, better than ever in the latest incarnation on the iPhone 4, there is another option open to you. Android is another operating system that is used on smartphones and likeminded handsets and it's an operating system that is rapidly going places.
In fact, handsets running Android are overtaking the iPhone when it comes to overall market share, although that's hardly surprising when you factor in how many touchscreen devices are now using the system. The Android phone is a popular home for the operating system but it was devised for a variety of devices, from mobiles to tablet computers and also netbook devices as popularised in many of the mobile broadband packages you’ll see throughout this website.
Android was developed initially by Google and has its roots in the Linux area, which is probably one of the reasons why it has gone on to enjoy widespread popularity. This has also contributed to its reputation as being a stable and highly versatile operating system that can handle all sorts of technical chores with vigour. The other big contributing factor to the Android operating system is that there is a whole community of developers who spend a large amount of their time writing and developing applications, or apps, for the Android OS.
The development of the Android phone
As a result, there has been an explosion in the popularity of Android and the many and varied apps that are associated with it. So, a simple search of our site will now reveal an awful lot of phones, and many of them are happily running Android to great effect. When it comes to the best Android phone then this is not such an easy thing to pin down, and although many people will have heard of the Google Android phone, this has since been bettered by many other models that have not only been able to tap into the potential of Android but also give it a new twist.
You certainly won’t have to look far in order to find a readily available supply of Android based phones. The first Android phone to come equipped with the Android operating system was the HTC G1 and that was originally available on the T-Mobile network. The great thing about this HTC Android phone and an Android mobile phone whatever the brand is that they’re very easy to control by pretty much anyone. Upgrades can also be carried out easily, which is why they’ve become so popular.
The best Android phone today
New Android phones may be everywhere but it's a difficult job pinning down which handset is the best of the Google Android bunch because they often have differing features for different customers. The Korean company HTC has been a big adopter of the Android-based phones marketplace and now have many of their models running this operating system. The Google Android phone, the Google Nexus One, has been fairly successful too, although an HTC Android phone called the Desire is essentially this very same touchscreen handset but under another name.
If you're considering splashing out on an android mobile phone then it's a good idea to spend some time picking through our comparison tables in order to give yourself an idea of the features and specifications commonly found on new Android phones. The Android phone UK wise is very buoyant and there are plenty of models to choose from, although its probably best to first decide what you want to do with your Android phone before you commit to a contract or some other touchscreen phone deal.
After all, there's not much point in going for a top-level specification handset that costs quite a lot if you are only a lighter user who won't be getting full value from the smartphone.
Android phones and what they can do for you
Thanks to Android based phones using an operating system that uses lots of open-source code, which means that it is built by developers in the community, rather than being a specific company led operation, Android phones are certainly flexible. An Android mobile phone can utilise all manner of applications, or apps, that are created by developers and then passed over to the public to try on their handsets.
Having a collection of apps on your touchscreen smartphone can revolutionise the day-to-day use of a mobile and allow you to use a phone pretty much as a proper computer, but without the bulk.
However, having a selection of apps on any of the Android based phones is all well and good but remember a few other things when you’re shopping for a touchscreen handset. You'll need to check out what sort of processor the Android mobile phone comes with, because this will dictate how fast it runs and how many apps you’re able to use at the same time.
Some lesser-powered handsets might struggle, although new Android phones are coming out with more impressive technical specifications all the time and often for a very competitive price. Just a quick look through our smartphone comparison tables will reveal plenty of handheld devices that run Google Android, so much so that its nigh on impossible to pin down the best Android phone.
They all do great things and some have features that one person might find essential, while another might feel that they will never need from a touchscreen smartphone.
Android phones and the future
While it's clear that Android based phones will be around for a good while yet, and perhaps they'll go on to become even more popular, buying a touchscreen smartphone isn't just about what sort of operating system it uses.
It's well worth using the comparison tables and reading up a few reviews of the Android phones that you like so see how they stack up alongside handsets running other operating systems. You'll want to get a model with a decent screen area as well as being able to enjoy a decent battery life. Smartphones, particularly touchscreen handsets often have quite a demand on battery power and some models can provide relatively short usage times before they need juicing up again.
Many new Android phones will come with QWERTY-style keyboards that appear on screen when you want to type. Features like this, and also any number of apps can mean that you'll be putting the touchscreen device that you choose through its paces on a regular basis. So try and pick one with a decent processor, and also lookout for all of the toys you normally associate with Android based phones, or in fact handsets in general.
This means that you should have a shopping list of a music player, the capacity for watching video footage, a radio, voice recorder and a whole host of other things. Many of today’s Android phones will have these features and much more besides, although you may find variations on the theme depending on which Android based phones you end up putting on your wants list.
Android phones and tariffs
Touchscreen handsets including Android based phones can be picked up in a variety of different packages, with either pay-monthly or pay-as-you-go options being suitable depending on what your needs happen to be. While all of the major mobile operators will be able to offer you a deal, including the likes of O2, Orange, Vodafone, T-Mobile, Virgin Mobile, 3 Mobile and others, it’s important to remember that you need to factor in the total cost of the smartphone or touchscreen handset that you're selecting.
In the case of PAYG you'll probably just have to stump up the cost of the phone itself, and these are available running the Android operating system. As for pay-monthly, meanwhile, it's likely that you'll need to work out the monthly payments and add it all up to work out if this is the right sort of deal for your needs. There are a variety of added extras that can often be bundled into a tariff and this can include the likes of free minutes, and chunky text message quotas.
Be careful with the area of data downloads though and read up on the terms and conditions, because smartphones, including the Android based phones can use up a lot of a data allowance in quite a short space of time. As always, use our price comparison tables and read the small print before committing.
