Ten... Androids for under 200 quid

Motorola Motoluxe

Out of the box, the Motoluxe looks like a high-end smartphone – it’s almost all screen, has good build quality and an 8Mp camera. The 4in screen is sharp too at 480 x 854 pixels but the ultimate pay-off for all the surface USPs are an average 800MHz processor and around 300MB of internal storage to play with, a MicroSD card upgrade is essential.

The Motoluxe is an attempt to bring big budget items like a large screen and impressive camera to the mid-range Android market but falls short given that, in day-to-day use, despite its good looks, it feels sluggish against its rivals.

Orange Monte Carlo

The Monte Carlo is an Orange branded version of the ZTE Skate featuring a giant, 4.3in, 400 x 800-pixel screen that immediately impresses. Indeed, the size eclipses other Android smartphones at a similar price point. While responsive and bright, it's not the most detailed display, truth be told.

The embedded Orange apps are annoying bloatware but the battery life is good considering the screen size and its 800MHz processor. Naturally, the price is subsidised by the fact you’ll be topping up with Orange credit on PAYG but that doesn’t change the fact that the Orange Monte Carlo is still a value for money option and certainly accessible for Android virgins.