HTC has a critical hit with its “One” series of Android smartphones. If you think the One S is a poor man’s One X, you would be wrong. Rather than being a cheaper alternative, it compliments the larger device and, in another world, this could have been the flagship handset. The HTC One S is a beautiful handset blessed with beautiful capabilities and is already available at very palatable price points. It’s just a pity about the 16GB limited memory.

The Galaxy Note II is a massive phone. Its display measures in at 5.5 inches, almost a mini-tablet. It’s so big the iPhone 5 can fit inside it with plenty of room.

The Note II also comes with a special stylus called the S Pen that lets you write or doodle on the screen. While the Note II’s size will probably be far too big for most, the device still seems to be selling pretty well. Samsung says it’s sold 3 million so far. Not too shabby.

In short, the Galaxy Note II gives you all the great features of the Galaxy S III, but in a bigger package. It’s the smart phone version of those telephones for the elderly with massive numbers. For those of you with large paws, maybe the Galaxy S III is for you.

Now that the iPhone 5 is finally here, Apple will keep the iPhone 4S around at a discounted price. Even though it’s a year old, the iPhone 4S is still a great device. You also get access to Apple’s excellent ecosystem of movies, music, and apps.

The only downside is that the iPhone 4S is still stuck on 3G networks, meaning you won’t get super fast data speeds like you can on the other phones listed here. But as these are still a while away for us in South Africa, it is probably the best time for those wanting to give the iPhone a try.

HTC’s One X is one of the best smartphones to launch this year. Fusing top level CPU power with a beautiful screen (and a whopping one at that) and really thinking about how it wants to strip back its skin on top of the latest version of Android without compromising its identity.

Then there’s the likes of integrated DropBox storage, Beats Audio enhancements and the upgraded music player. Plus the improved lock screen, the speedier internet browser and the camera that’s among the most feature-rich on the market.

Google will launch its new flagship phone, the Nexus 4, on November 13. Business Insider has been playing around with it for several days and say this is the best phone Google has released so far.

The Nexus 4 was made by LG and packs some incredible specs. It also has a new version of Android that includes a really cool panoramic feature.

The downside: The Nexus 4 won’t work on LTE networks, meaning you won’t always get the fastest data connection. That’s going to be a dealbreaker for a lot of people. Not if you live in PE, however.

It’s a close call, but the Galaxy S III is the best Android phone on the market right now. The Galaxy S3 is one of the most advanced smartphones in the world ever. With a host of new features, a spec list that’s close to being unbeatable in the modern climate and a pretty darn palatable price on contract (if you’re with the right network), there’s a good reason why the Galaxy S3 broke pre-order records the world over.

Apple’s new iPhone 5 is the best smartphone you can buy right now. Is it the best for everyone? No. As with all things, it’s a matter of personal preference.

For just about everyone though, the iPhone 5 has what you need. Apple improved the iPhone 5, adding a larger screen, thinner body, faster processor, and an LTE data connection. Couple that with Apple’s excellent service and ecosystem, and you have the best phone you can buy today.

Do you agree with Buisness Insider’s list? Which will be your next smart-phone?

[Source: Business Insider]