Here's a look at some of best new smartphones out there, what they can do and how much they will cost you.
Apple iPhone 4S
Let's get this one out of the way first then. The iPhone 4S is the latest iteration of Apple's iconic smartphone.
Featuring a better camera than the iPhone 4, a more powerful processor for better graphics and performance, and the amazing Siri personal assistant, the 4S is more evolution than revolution.
The new dual-band aerial design should erase all memory of the iPhone 4's embarrassing signal-dropping issues and the new iOS5 brings the handset's software into line with a lot of other smartphones on the market, including Twitter integration and a new notifications bar.
Tariffs
Three's 'SIM only' iPhone is one of the most competitive 4S tariffs on the market. £15 a month will get you 300 minutes, 3000 texts and unlimited data usage.
You'll have to buy the phone upfront, but you're not tied to a contract - so if you upgrade with each new iPhone iteration then you won't be tied in when the iPhone 5 comes out.
O2, Vodafone, T-Mobile and Orange all have their own tariffs with different allowances, but generally speaking you'll need to spend at least £39 a month to get the handset for free.
Samsung Galaxy S II
Of all the contenders to the iPhone crown, the Galaxy S II is probably the most likely to give Apple sleepless nights.
Samsung has already leapfrogged Apple in terms of worldwide smartphone market share (for the third quarter of the year) following the handset's launch.
But what does it take to take a bite out of Apple's market share? Well, the incredibly slim (8.5mm) Galaxy S II features a dual-core 1.2GHz processor, 4.3 inch Super AMOLED screen and an 8.1 megapixel camera capable of 1080p (Full HD) video recording.
The phone runs the latest Android software and critics have lauded its lightning fast reaction and load times.
Tariffs
You can get yourself a Galaxy S II for free with O2 on a 24 month contract. £26 a month gets you 600 minutes and unlimited texts. Orange, Vodafone and T-Mobile also all offer the handset for free on a 24 month contract
Blackberry Bold 9900
If you're part of the Blackberry crowd you'll be pleased to know that the company is going toe-to-toe with the high-end smartphones with its Bold 9900.
Combining a full QWERTY keyboard with a touchscreen interface, the 9900 also has a 1.2GHz dual-core processor under the bonnet.
Reviews have praised the handset for its crystal-clear (albeit small) screen, 8GB of in-built (expandable) memory and for being the slimmest Blackberry handset to date. Of course you get all the usual great Blackberry features like the Blackberry Messenger Service and reliable email to boot.
Tariffs
A free 9900 can be yours for free on a 24 month contract for as little as £39 (Vodafone). The handset is also available on O2, Orange, 3, T-Mobile and other major networks.
HTC Sensation XE (with Beats Audio)
HTC has established a solid reputation in the smartphone arena and is teaming up with Beats Audio for its latest handset, the Sensation XE, to appeal to music fans and audiophiles.
The update to the successful Sensation handset features IBeats headphones, a 4.3 inch S-LCD screen and a powerful 1.5GHx dual-core processor.
The phone's software is built around Android 2.3, but also features the well-loved HTC Sense user-interface. With 1GB of internal storage and expandable external memory there's plenty of scope for filling it up with all your favourite tracks.
Tariffs
On O2 you can get the XE for free for £37 a month with unlimited data (on a 24 month contract)
And the rest?
These are just some of the latest launches from the biggest manufacturers, but there's plenty more going on in the smartphone market.
Nokia is investing heavily in the Lumia 800, the first of it's mobiles to use a Windows operating system and HTC and Blackberry each have a few new handsets on the market too, offering varying levels of functionality to suit all budgets.
While Samsung's Galaxy S II might be making waves at the moment, fans are eagerly awaiting the release of the Galaxy Nexus, which is scheduled to arrive before the year is out."
The top-of-the-range handset will run Android's new Ice Cream Sandwich operating system, features a 4.6 inch screen, 16GB of storage and a 1.2GHz dual-core processor.
Apple certainly has less of a monopoly on the smartphone at the moment, meaning there's a lot more choice for consumers at competitive prices, which we can all agree is a good thing.
If you're looking to compare prices and tariffs, be sure to check out our mobile phones comparison service.
Please note: Any rates or deals mentioned in this article were available at the time of writing.
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