Android Ice Cream Sandwich phones: The definitive list

08 Aug 2012

Let’s face it, Android phones got a whole lot more cachet when the OS was upgraded to version 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, the major refresh that streamlined design, general navigation and the efficiency of features like the contacts book and home screen customisation. But though Ice Cream Sandwich launched on the Samsung Galaxy Nexus almost a year ago, it hasn’t made its way as an upgrade for most Android phones.

Read our handy – and regularly updated – list to find out which phones are packing ICS, whether at launch or via an update.

 

HTC Desire C

 

Still the most wallet-friendly way to get a taste of Ice Cream Sandwich, the £150 Desire C doesn’t really have the horsepower to run the OS fully – but if you're on a budget, it'll do.

Full review of the HTC Desire C

 

HTC One X, S, and V

 

 

For camera and music, HTC’s One series is fairly supreme, with the same low light-friendly snapper and Beats Audio for richer surround sound. They differ in price and specs, with the One X (front) the £470 quad-core beast, the One S (left) the dual-core mid-ranger at £360 and the One V (back) coming in around the £225 mark with a single-core chip.

Full review of the HTC One X       Full review of the HTC One S        Full review of the HTC One V

Huawei Ascend P1

 

This dual-core phone packs a sharp eight-megapixel camera and colourful screen, with most of the top-end email, media and office features you’d expect of a phone costing more than its £350 price tag.

Full review of the Huawei Ascend P1

 

LG Optimus 4X HD

 

If you’re after a quad-core phone for HD gaming and movies, the 4X HD sports a brilliant screen – but its camera and battery life are lacklustre.

Full review of the LG Optimus 4X HD

 

Samsung Galaxy Nexus

 

The original Android Ice Cream Sandwich phone, the Galaxy Nexus was the carrier for the pure Google experience, and like its predecessor, the Samsung Nexus S, it's already up for an update to the new version, Android Jelly Bean. 

Full review of the Samsung Galaxy Nexus

 

Samsung Galaxy S III

 

There’s not much the S III can’t do, its quad-core chip running Ice Cream Sandwich with buttery smooth finesse. You can even properly multitask, reading email in a small window while playing HD video.

Full review of the Samsung Galaxy S III

 

Samsung Nexus S

 

The device that launched Android Gingerbread in its pure Google-approved form was one of the first to get the ICS update – and it's already in line for an upgrade to the latest refresh, version 4.1 Jelly Bean.

Full review of the Samsung Nexus S

 

Sony Xperia S

 

The media-centric smartphone got its update back in June. Buy one now and it should come running ICS already.

Full review of the Sony Xperia S

 

ZTE Grand X

 

Another budget Ice Cream Sandwich phone, the dual-core Grand X manages a speedy performance and slick touch-screen for just £200 on pay-as-you-go. With an HD screen and access to the Tegra Zone downloads portal, it's great for gaming and movies, though its battery life could be better.

Full review of the ZTE Grand X