10 best smartphones

Plenty of new smartphones have hit the shelves recently, and Samsung’s new Galaxy S8 is merely the latest of a series of slick, powerful handsets to go on sale.

To decide which to buy, you need to consider screen size, camera, operating system, battery life and price. Phone screens are getting bigger, though our hands aren’t, so it’s important to try it in yours before you buy, if you can.

The two main operating systems are iOS (on the iPhone) and Android (on almost everything else). You can still buy phones running Windows, though these are now only made by Microsoft. The lack of favourite apps has held Windows back and these phones, though good value, are a tiny part of the market. Still, they run a full version of the Windows 10 OS so it will appeal to some. Switching between iOS and Android is now more painless than ever but you will need to buy and instal some apps all over again if you do.

Cameras are increasingly important now; many people exclusively use their phones to take pictures. Twin cameras on the rear offer extra features and better picture quality.

Battery life on all the phones here will see you through a full day without trouble, though nightly charges are advised. There are conflicting views on how to charge a smartphone, with some believing overnight charges diminish battery life. Some here, especially HTC and Sony, charge more intelligently so that long-term battery life is maintained.

Many phones are now water-resistant at least, though not all – the list here is half and half.  HTC, Google, Honor, Huawei and iPhone SE phones here are not.