Friday, June 10, 2011

Updated: 10 best touchscreen phones for 2011

Our best touchscreen phone article is constantly updated.

Quite simply, touch screen technology is the innovation we now expect to see in some shape or form from every new smartphone that launches.

Swapping a button-bashing existence for a softer sensing interface we can press, swipe, pinch and zoom, means we can now do a little bit more than simply stare into that pint-sized screen of ours.

If the only QWERTY keyboard you want to see on a daily basis is the one nestled next to your office computer, here's our pick of the best touchscreen smartphones available right now in the UK.

1. Samsung Galaxy S2

LG optimus 2x

The Galaxy brand has restored our faith in Samsung's ability to make great phones, and with Google's Android OS and some impressive touchscreen technology, the S2 continues that trend.

Housed within a supremely slender form, the 4.27-inch Super AMOLED Plus screen is an ideal surrounding for viewing your 8-megapixel snaps.

Running on Android 2.3 Gingerbread and packing a 1.2Ghz dual-core Exynos processor ensures there is plenty of zip for your web browsing and with eye-popping colours it's perfect for watching a plethora of video formats on the go.

Read our full Samsung Galaxy S2 review

2. Apple iPhone 4

iPhone 4

There's plenty to laud over Apple's latest smartphone creation, particularly the 3.5-inch capacitive touch screen and Retina Display which is a vast visual improvement on the 3GS.

Admirably serving all your multi-touch, pinch, zoom, cut and pasting needs, the 800:1 contrast ratio and 960x640p resolution makes the iPhone 4 a suitable partner for all your widescreen movie-watching and looking back at your freshly-snapped photos - and web browsing is still a dream on this pin-sharp display.

Read our full iPhone 4 review

3. Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc

Samsung wave 2

Despite the Xperia Play hogging the media limelight, the Arc has captured our imaginations from the latest range of Sony Ericsson handsets much in part to the gorgeous 4.2-inch touchscreen display.

With a curved-body design making it one of the most comfortable to grip in your hand, the new Reality Display which uses LED backlighting along with the Mobile Bravia Engine, should serve your video playback, browsing and deliver a slick response to touch.

Read our Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc review

4. Samsung Galaxy S

Samsung galaxy s

Setting the benchmark for immensely bright displays, the Galaxy S houses a 4-inch Super AMOLED capacitive touchscreen that does not disappoint. Its 480x800 WVGA resolution is someway behind the iPhone 4 (640x960), but you can still expect vivid colours, true blacks and outstanding contrast ratio.

It's no longer at the top of the pile when it comes to awesome picture quality, having been usurped by its Galaxy S2 brother, but this is still one of the best touchscreen phones to show off in the pub if you want to bedazzle your mates with awe-inspiring picture quality.

Read our full Samsung Galaxy S review

5. HTC Desire HD

HTC desire hd

Sporting a massive 4.3-inch Super LCD touch screen display, the HD has plenty of room for slick manoeuvre around HTC's overhauled Sense UI.

Incorporating the same 480X800 WVGA resolution as the original Desire does, however, mean it lacks the vividness and superior contrast ratios of Samsung's Super AMOLED displays.

Most importantly though, your digits are rewarded with a fluid interface interaction and the kind of satisfying pinch-to-zoom experience we saw with its predecessor, making it a worthy addition to this best touchscreen list.

Read our full HTC Desire HD review

6. Google Nexus S

Google nexus s

Having resurrected the Nexus brand, new suitor Samsung has packed Android 2.3 behind a curved 4-inch 800x480 WVGA Super AMOLED display.

With 235ppi, the screen is exceptionally bright and sharp and as we've come to expect from AMOLED displays provides excellent contrast ratio for your pictures.

A wide range of video format support should make for prime viewing delivering deep blacks, while Samsung claims that it has 75% less glare than other screens, so should make it perfect for the sunny-ish days we're given in good ol' Blighty.

Read our Google Nexus S review

7. HTC Incredible S

HTC incredible

Proving to be a quirky hit on British shores, the Incredible S hosts a 4-inch 800x480 WVGA Super LCD display.

Matching the HTC Desire in the resolution department, the touchscreen is kinder on the battery life, and boasts Desire-like response for your digits.

The screen size which measures in slightly smaller than the Desire HD, delivers bright colours and great contrast, which should be fitting for your 720p HD video and eight-megapixel pictures.

Read our HTC Incredible S review

8. HTC Desire S

HTC desire

Inspired by the HTC Legend in the looks department, the new aluminium design is complimented by a 3.7-inch Super LCD display. It may not deliver eye popping colours like the S2 but it still offers bright viewing for 720HD video playback and web browsing.

A new Qualcomm 1GHz Snapdragon processor is in tow to deliver speedier browsing an improved overall performance, and with Android 2.3 Gingerbread and HTC Sense 2.1 overlaying the whole experience it's an impressive all round Desire S package.

Read our full HTC Desire S review

9. Samsung Omnia 7

Omnia 7

In the battle of the Windows Phone 7 handsets, the Omnia 7 has one feature that set itself apart from the rest, a gorgeous 4-inch Super AMOLED capacitive touch screen.

The 800x480 resolution has colours looking bold and vivid, delivering deep contrast ratios, and showing off the Windows Phone 7 UI's slick, angular design.

A tactile feel under the fingertips makes it easy to swipe around screens and get familiar with the new OS - if only getting video on there didn't feel like you were trying to paint the Sistine Chapel from the floor. Blindfolded.

Read our full Samsung Omnia 7 review

10. HTC HD7

HTC hd7

The biggest Windows Phone 7 launch handset in its most literal sense, the HD7 joins the Desire HD sporting an equally hulking 4.3-inch capacitive LCD touchscreen.

The similarities do not end there, with the screen-dominated smartphone boasting Desire HD-like 800x480 WVGA resolution that should do justice to images and text against the white background.

There's plenty of room to pinch-to-zoom your way through websites, and while it's not techically to do with the touchscreen, the kickstand on the back is still one of our favourite features on a phone and makes video watching a joy on the long train rides.

Read our full HTC HD7 review



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