It’s raining Android phones and while you are spoilt for choice, it is also about finally zeroing on the perfect handset that gives you your money’s worth. With a vast range from multiple vendors and each claiming to offer a better, smoother and nicer Android experience, getting to the cream of the crop is surely a task, and we enjoyed doing so.

Our Digit Top 10 Android Phone listing provides information on the key specifications, has links to detailed reviews and our hands-on experiences with devices that have just been released in the Indian market. The pricing of the Top 10 Android phones in India 2011 have been taken from popular and dependable online stores.

We shall keep updating the list as per changes in pricing and accordingly the rankings will also be altered to ensure that the Top 10 2011 list is accurate. 

1) Samsung Galaxy S II (I9100)

Price: Rs 32,890

Awarding the Samsung Galaxy S II as the best Android device was not an easy call, thanks to the competition in the market from the HTC Sensation to the LG Optimus 2X. Read our comprehensive review of the Galaxy S II here. The Samsung Galaxy S II certainly delivers and keeps up with all that hype, the Samsung Galaxy S II is the best Android phone for sure; it perhaps is the best overall smartphone today. What makes the Galaxy S II even more tempting in India is the price-point; the S2 is delightfully priced lower than the international pricing. With an MRP of Rs 32,890, the S II should soon settle around the 30K mark in the market. While 30K is a lot of money, but when you consider the fact that most of the other high-end android devices are priced around the 25K mark, 30K for a phone that is far, far ahead of the rest of the pack in every department is clearly justified in our books.

Read the Samsung Galaxy S II review here

Key Specifications and Features

Android v2.3.3 with TouchWiz 4.0
4.3-inch Super AMOLED Plus display
Super-slim body, weighs just 116g
1.2GHz Dual Core Processor
1GB of RAM
8MP Camera with autofocus
1080p video recording@30fps
HDMI port
USB 2.0 (MHL), USB on-the-go
NFC (Near Field Communication) ready

Read more about the Galaxy S II:

Samsung Galaxy S II – Breathtakingly Brilliant [Review]
Samsung Galaxy S II – Hands on and lots of pics!
Samsung Galaxy S II vs. HTC Sensation – battle of the 1.2GHz dual-core smartphones
Samsung Galaxy S II launches in India, priced at Rs. 32,890 

2) HTC Sensation

 

Price: Rs 30,499 (flipkart.com)

The Sensation is HTC’s current top-end offering in India; it has a large, high-resolution screen and offers the trademark HTC build quality. Running on Android Gingerbread, the Sensation comes with an upgraded HTC Sense UI (version 3.0). Powered with a dual-core 1.2GHz processor and 768MB RAM, it has enough firepower to ensure a fluid Android experience. The biggest advantage of the Sensation is the screen resolution, with 540×960 pixels rendered on the 4.3-inch S-LCD screen, the Sensation has the highest pixel density of all the Android phones (with 4-inch and above screen size)

Read HTC Sensation test lab review here

Key Specifications and Features

Android 2.3.3 with HTC Sense UI 3.0
4.3-inch SLCD display
Sturdy construction with excellent build
1.2 GHz Qualcomm MSM 8260 CPU
768MB RAM
8MP Camera with Autofocus
1080p video capture@30fps
Gorilla Glass Display

Read more about the Incredible S:

3) HTC Incredible S

Price: Rs 26,399 (flipkart.com)

The Incredible S is superbly built, has the HTC Sense UI and offers a very fluid Android 2.3 experience. With a 4-inch screen, the Incredible S is sized perfectly, striking a good balance between screen-size and handling. With 1 GHz Qualcomm processor and 768MB RAM, the Incredible S is well specced, offering a stutter free overall experience across the interface, apps and multitasking (especially after the Android 2.3 update).

Read HTC Incredible S Review

Key Specifications and Features

Android 2.3.3 with HTC Sense UI 2.0
4.0-inch SLCD display
Slim, ruggedized body with excellent build
1.0 GHz Qualcomm MSM 8255 CPU
768MB RAM
8MP Camera with Autofocus
720p video capture@30fps
Gorilla Glass Display

Read more about the Incredible S:

HTC Incredible S launched in India with Super LCD screen, for Rs. 28,990
HTC promises Gingerbread update for Desire family and Incredible S
iPHONE 4 vs Incredible S (forum discussion)

 

4) Google Nexus S

 

Price: Rs 19,900 (flipkart.com)

The Nexus S is a “Google” phone, which offers a massive advantage over other Android phones with respect to receiving Android updates. Any minor update or a newer version of the OS itself that the hardware qualifies for will be first seen on the Nexus S. The Nexus S ships pre-loaded with the Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) version and it does not come with any customized UI, giving you the “RAW” android experience. If you are one of those purists wanting the core Android experience, the Nexus S is certainly your best bet today. The 4-inch SuperLCD display of the Indian version is sharp, bright and visibly vibrant, and while it doesn’t compare to the SuperAMOLED of the original, it is still one of the best displays out there.

Read our Google Nexus S review here

Key Specifications and Features:

Android 2.3.4
4-inch SAMOLED display
Well-built with contoured screen
1.0 GHz ARM Cortex-A8 processor
512MB RAM
5MP Camera with Autofocus
WVGA (800×480 pixels) video@30fps
Gorilla Glass Display

Read more about the Google Nexus S:

Samsung launches Google Nexus S with Super LCD in India, for Rs. 30,400
Samsung made Google Nexus S finally goes official, touting Gingerbread and NFC
 

5) LG Optimus 2x (P990)

Price: Rs. 26,990 (flipkart.com)

The only other dual-core processor phone available in India, apart from the Galaxy S II, the LG Optimus 2x sports the popular 1GHz Nvidia Tegra 2 processor onboard, and in fact, holds the title of the world’s first dual-core smartphone. Running Android 2.3 Gingerbread, the Optimus 2x has a 4-inch IPS LCD screen, 512MB of RAM, 8GB of inbuilt storage, an 8MP rear camera and 1.3MP front-facing camera, as well as GPS/A-GPS connectivity. At its price, all this makes the phone a great value for money proposition. It’s also one of the few phones in the market to offer 1080p HD video recording.

Read our LG Optimus 2X review here

Key Specifications and Features:

Android 2.3
4-inch IPS LCD display (800×480 pixels)
World’s first dual-core smartphone
1GHz dual-core Nvidia Tegra 2 processor with ULP GPU
512MB RAM
8MP Camera with Autofocus and LED flash
1080p HD video@24fps
Gorilla Glass Display

Read more about the LG Optimus 2x:

LG announces top-end Android smartphones for India – Optimus 2X and Optimus Black
LG announces first dual-core phone- The LG Optimus 2x
Nvidia Tegra 2 gaining popularity, signed on as next-gen Galaxy Tab’s processor

 

6) Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc

Price: Rs. 27,499 (flipkart.com)

Announced back at CES 2011, the Xperia Arc is Sony Ericsson’s current flagship phone, and is one of the thinnest phones in the world, measuring just 8.7mm at its thinnest with a beautiful contoured form factor. Bearing a 4.2-inch LED-backlit Reality Display powered by a Mobile Bravia Engine, a 1GHz Snapdragon processor, 512MB of RAM, and an 8.1MP camera powered by an Exmor R sensor capable of 720p HD recording. It runs Android 2.3 Gingerbread out of the box, with Sony Ericsson’s Timescape UI, and an Android 2.3.3 Gingerbread update has been released for it as well.

Read Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc Review

Key Specifications and Features

Android 2.3 (2.3.3 update available)
4.2-inch Reality Display (854×480 pixels)
Super-slim and elegant, contoured design
1GHz Scorpion processor with Adreno 205 GPU
512MB RAM
8MP Camera with Autofocus and LED flash
720p HD video@30fps

Read the rest of our Top Android phones in India list, on Page 2…

Looking for Android Tablets In India? Check these out! 

• Motorola Xoom, 10.1-inch Android Tablet, Rs. 39,990. Read Review
• HTC flyer, Android Tablet with Stylus. Rs 39890. Read Review
• Acer Iconia Tab, first Android tablet in India, Rs. 27990. Read Review
• Reliance 3G Tab, Rs 12999. Read Review

Other recommended Hot Android Stories… 

• Norton Mobile Security, a security solution for Android for Rs 599. Read Review
• HTC EVO 3D vs LG Optimus 3D, 3D Dual Core Android Phone Comparison. Read Comparison
• Mercury M-Tab, a triple core Android Tablet comes to India. Read Coverage
• Hands-on with the Rs 9,999 Android Tablet from Beetel. Read Coverage

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7) Sony Ericsson Xperia Play

Price: Rs. 29,999 (flipkart.com)

The long-awaited PlayStation Phone arrived earlier this year with much fanfare and excitement. Officially called the Sony Ericsson Xperia Play, the device is a one-of-a-kind product in the global and Indian market today, with its slide-out hardware gamepad that’s inspired by the PlayStation controller, with a D-Pad, two touch-based ‘analog’ sticks, and the PlayStation buttons. The phone is meant for both hardcore and casual gamers who are sick of touchscreen games, with their lack of accurate, responsive control and over-use of display real estate. The Xperia Play comes with exclusive PlayStation games, and a whole section dedicated to it in the app store.

Read Sony Ericsson Xperia Play Review.

Key Specifications and Features

Android 2.3.3
4.0-inch LED-backlit LCD display (854×480 pixels)
A bit bulky, the Xperia Play still fits comfortably in your pocket and hand
1GHz Scorpion processor with Adreno 205 GPU
512MB RAM
5MP Camera with Autofocus and LED flash
WVGA (800×480) video@30fps

 

 

8) HTC Desire S

Price: Rs. 26,999

The Desire S is a refresh of the popular 2010 Android device, the HTC Desire, and brings notable new features, including the new Android 2.3 Gingerbread OS, while maintaining the old styling. It sports the same 3.7-inch SuperLCD display, the same 5MP camera capable of 720p HD video recording, and the same distinctive aluminium unibody. The HTC Desire S has some useful newer components, justifying the product refresh – more RAM, at 768MB, and the new 1GHz Scorpion processor and Adreno 205 GPU. It also sports better connectivity options, like Wi-Fi b/g/n with DLNA, and HSDPA 14.4Mbps/HSUPA 5.76Mbps.

Key Specifications and Features

Android 2.3 with HTC Sense UI 2.0
3.7-inch SuperLCD (800×480 pixels)
Sturdy well-built aluminium frame
1GHz Scorpion processor with Adreno 205 GPU
768MB RAM
5MP Camera with Autofocus and LED flash
720p HD video@30fps

Read more about the HTC Desire S:
HTC Desire S launches in India with Gingerbread, at Rs. 25,490
HTC introduces five new phones including Facebook duo, and its first tablet

 

 

9) Samsung Galaxy S I9000

Price: Rs. 22,900 (flipkart.com)

The Samsung Galaxy S might just be the most popular Android phone ever, having sold millions of units worldwide. With it, Samsung derived many variants, enough to inspire a Galaxy S family of devices. Bearing a 4-inch Super AMOLED display, the Samsung Galaxy S currently ships with Android 2.2 Froyo, but is easily updatable to Android 2.3 Gingerbread. It comes in 8GB and 16GB variants. While it has a slightly aging chipset when compared to the competition, the 1GHz ARM Cortex-A8 processor and PowerVR SGX540 GPU still hold their own against many modern speed demons. With excellent build quality, a great display, snappy performance, and a highly responsive touchscreen, the Galaxy S remains one of the best Android phones today.

Key Specifications and Features:

Android 2.2 (2.3 update available)
4-inch SuperAMOLED (800×480 pixels)
Solid yet lightweight build
1GHz ARM Cortex-A8 processor with PowerVR SGX540 GPU
512MB RAM, 4GB ROM
5MP Camera with Autofocus and LED flash
720p HD video@30fps
Gorilla Glass Display

Read more about the Samsung Galaxy S:

Samsung promises Gingerbread update for Galaxy S in March
Samsung Galaxy S I9000 gets Gingerbread upgrade, officially [Update: Google halts it]

 

 

10) Samsung Galaxy S I9003 (Galaxy SL)

Price: Rs. 19,990 (flipkart.com)

The low-priced version of the Galaxy S, the Galaxy S I9003 is a great value for money proposition, with the exact same specifications as the Galaxy S, excepting a few minor cost savings – an impressive SuperLCD screen instead of a SuperAMOLED, and 4GB inbuilt storage for the base model. Neither of these things detract from the other qualities and overall performance of the phone, and Samsung has a winner on its hands in the segment, with consumers incredulous at the technology they are getting for less than Rs. 20,000

Key Specifications and Features

Android 2.2 (2.3 update available)
4-inch SuperLCD (800×480 pixels)
Solid yet lightweight build
1GHz ARM Cortex-A8 processor with PowerVR SGX540 GPU
512MB RAM, 2GB ROM
5MP Camera with Autofocus and LED flash
720p HD video@30fps
Gorilla Glass Display

Read more about the Galaxy SL:
Samsung announces the Galaxy SL – a Galaxy S variant, and possible replacement

 

 

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The market for Android devices in India has been burgeoning ever since Samsung brought its Galaxy 3 and 5 phones to the country, and today, be it low-cost device or a top-end smartphone, the availability and demand for Android products is high. We’re beginning to also see manufacturers treat India with importance, bringing in products quite shortly after their international launches.

All this bodes well for you, the end user, and if you ever get confused with the nearly endless variety of Android devices out there, check back to ThinkDigit’s Top Products page or our Reviews section, and get your dose of clarity.