5 Best Mobile Phones 2015

Here are our top 5 rankings for the best smartphones currently available in the UK.

5: Nexus 6

Google’s best ever phone is also its biggest ever.

OS: Android 5 | Screen size: 5.96-inch | Resolution: 2560 x 1440 | Memory: 3GB | Storage: 32GB/64GB | Battery: 3,220mAh | Rear camera: 13MP | Front camera: 2MP

Google’s latest Nexus is a phone that moves away from the usual ‘super cheap superphone’ and into phablet territory with its latest offering. The good news is the screen is also supercharged: massive at 6 inches, it’s also got a stunning QHD resolution.

You’ll always be getting the latest updates to Google’s Android OS with this one, and while it’s certainly something you’d have to use two handed (make sure you’re fine with that before buying, as it’s put a lot of people off that we’ve shown it to) it’s tremendous display, premium specs and great use 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.

4. Sony Xperia Z3

A solid phone with a good screen and excellent battery life.

OS: Android 5 | 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 is a phone that offers the best of Sony with some really polished tweaks thrown in for good measure. The screen is one of the brightest around and really benefits from Bravia technology, and the longer battery life embarrasses a number of other big smartphones around at the moment.

We do expect more from the camera, and the black bezels above and below the display ruin the aesthetic somewhat, but the ability to Remote Play your PS4 more than makes up for it – it’s a really cool feature and means you can keep gaming while someone else is hogging the TV.

The Z3 is a brilliant phone with a few rough edges – but Sony’s also great at bringing the cost of its handsets down, so this represents really good value for money for a flagship.

3. LG G4

Luxury leather on a smartphone that tries to please everyone.

OS: Android 5.1 | Screen size: 5.5-inch | Resolution: 2560 x 1440 | Memory:3GB | Storage: 32GB | Battery: removable 3,000mAh | Rear camera: 16MP |Front camera: 8MP

LG has tried to focus on what everyone actually wants out of a smartphone, a great looking design, colour rich display and the great camera for photos – but it doesn’t quite deliver as impressively as we’d hoped.

Don’t let that put you off though. There’s a lot going on with the LG G4, and for the most part it’s rather positive indeed. The leatherback is much nicer than the plastic option, and it will make your phone stand out among the swath of glass and metal offerings.

Its large, expansive screen is one of the best on the market, the 16MP laser auto-focus camera takes some cracking shots and the rear buttons are easier to hit on a handset this size.

As a complete package, it offers more than the Xperia Z3 and One M9, but it doesn’t quite match the slickness and design of the iPhone 6 and Galaxy S6.

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, it just works, promoting simplicity over fiddly menus..

The camera has a lower megapixel count than others, but it’s fast, 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.

The sticking point is it’s still one of the most expensive phones on the market, and spec-fiends will note it’s not quite got the technology inside to truly back up the cost.

But don’t let that put you off: if you’re in the market for a handset from Apple, or just been tempted by one in the past: buy the iPhone 6. It’s excellent, a pure joy to use.

1. Samsung Galaxy S6

A brilliant phone that shows Samsung still has what it takes.

OS: Android 5 | Screen size: 5.1-inch | Resolution: 1440 x 2560 | Memory: 3GB | Storage: 32GB/64GB/128GB | Battery: 2550mAh | Rear camera: 16MP | Front camera: 5MP

While last year’s Galaxy S5 was nothing special, this year Samsung’s started from the ground up to make a truly wonderful smartphone.

The camera is superb, the audio and video quality brilliant and the QHD display crammed into the 5.1-inch screen is the sharpest on the market – although it does suck down the battery rather a lot.

The design is finally something we’re pleased to hold in our hand, rather than the plastic cheapness of last year, and the refined TouchWiz overlay is a lot nicer to use.

It’s pretty expensive mind, so make sure you’re after a truly A-grade experience before buying as you’ll be paying handsomely for it – but if you do take the plunge, you’ve got the best phone on the market.