News Mobile 2011

Samsung Galaxy Ace

With a middle-of-the-range spec, 800MHz processor and iPhone-aping looks, it may be hard to see why it's worth buying into the new Galaxy Ace. However, its Android 2.2 (Froyo) OS makes a considerable difference and is, in fact, this phone's ace (yes! We said it) in the hole.

It won't cost you the Earth either, so look deeper and you may find just what you were looking for. 

Motorola Atrix

Smartphones have long been encroaching on the computing market, but the Atrix is annexing new turf. How? By including a built-in desktop OS and the ability to turn your phone into a so-called webtop computer.

What's more, the dual-core 1GHz processor and 1GB of RAM that come stuffed into the Atrix should mean a blisteringly fast smartphone experience too. Follow the link to find out more about the Atrix's brand of magic. 

LG Optimus 2X

A dual-core Tegra 2 processor, Android 2.2 and 1080p video recording from an eight-megapixel camera should all combine to make the LG Optimus 2X a potential powerhouse, especially for video.

But how does this 4-inch WVGA-screened monolith really perform, and can it invalidate all that's come before? Our early review with the pre-release software might still have some questions unanswered, but early signs show this dual-core wonder might lack the grunt we were all hoping for.

Samsung Galaxy Mini

Samsung loves a budget phone, and more to the point, it loves spewing out loads of them on Android. Not content with the Galaxy Ace, it's also brought the Galaxy Mini, Fit and Gio to the party, complete with budget stylings.

The Galaxy Mini suffers slightly from a low-grade processor - it may be only a smidge over £100 on PAYG, but the juddering might irritiate a few, and the screen is a low-res affair to boot.

However it's small and pocketable and a great starting point for a first tome smartphone buyer that wants to learn the Android system before moving up to something with a little higher-spec - plus it's running the latest version of the Google OS too.