There used to only be a few choices if you were looking for a phone that could do more than just the basics, but since the iPhone entered the scene there’s been hundreds of different handsets designed to dethrone the system. Not all of them have been successful but in the last year more and more have been released with some exciting features that rival a lot of what the iPhone can offer, and the growth of the android operating system has given non Apple smartphones a new lease of life thanks to its clever interface, app store and availability on cheaper handsets. If you’ve not been impressed with the iPhone 4, or you don’t want to spend so much money, what are your options right now?

Budget Option: The Orange San Francisco phone is one of the top smartphones you can pick up, and at around £90 it can do pretty much everything a £400 smart phone can do, albeit a little slower! The phone comes with a 3 megapixel camera, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, 3G, Android and a range of orange maps. While it lacks some of the more advanced features like GPS, it’s a great option for people who want a phone that’s capable of browsing the net and using data services while remaining attractive and easy to use.

Mid-Range: BlackBerry might not have had a great year, but the Bold range of phones from the company still offer a wide range of features for a decent price, and the iconic BlackBerry keyboard is still the best choice for people who intend to use their phone primarily for messaging. The small screen compared to other smartphones makes browsing the internet less enjoyable, but in that doesn’t stop the BlackBerry Bold 9780 from being one of the most versatile and well-built smartphones on the market and great example of what BlackBerry can do.

High End Option: The HTC desire is one of the most impressive phones from the company so far. It’s one of the most technically impressive phones to date, but its features extend beyond simply being fast. Full multitouch capability, 7 home screens, Android 2.2 and a beautiful OLED screen make the phone a joy to use. It’s certainly not cheap at about the same price as the iPhone 4, but it offers an experience that’s both similar and very different. The layout will be immediately recognisable to an iPhone user, but the way the phone works, openness and multitasking capabilities show that Android can easily complete with the iPhone OS when coupled with the right handset. For people who are after a bigger screen, there’s also a slightly more expensive HD version of the phone.

That’s only a small selection of the phones that are available if you want to step away from Apple and try something new. There’s a lot of great smartphones out there, but there’s also a lot of poorly made or badly priced smartphones as well, so make sure you check up on comparison sites and mobile phone review sites before making a decision so you don’t end up with a slow or badly made handset on a length contract!