THE smartphone war is not just about Apple and Samsung.

New handsets are appearing from their competitors and they are more compelling than you might expect.

From the budget model you can take for a dip to BlackBerry’s first Android phone, we round them up and test them out.

HTC 10

HTC / 4/5 / $1099 / htc.com/au

HTC is on the comeback trail and its candidate for top smartphone is devilishly attractive. The HTC 10 is the slickest phone the company has produced to date, with a solid metal body featuring striking chamfered edges, a tiny border around its 5.2-inch screen, and an accurate fingerprint scanner. Its Android software has been pared back to a speedy minimum, its front and bottom speakers produce surprising volume, and its Ultrapixel camera is back, though this time the larger pixel sensor is paired with a healthy 12-megapixel resolution. Its camera isn’t the fastest to focus, and the phone lacks water-resistance, but it’s a worthy comeback that deserves attention.

LG G5

LG / 3.5/5 / $1099 / harveynorman.com.au

The concept behind LG’s flagship smartphone is ingenious: a modular phone you can pull apart and put back together with better parts. And it works. Press a subtle button and you can remove its battery and install camera controls or a Bang & Olufsen sound module. Plus, the Android smartphone is zippy, and features a two-camera system, one with a 135-degree wide-angle lens to capture more of what’s before you. The problem with this phone is its execution. A glass seam at the top of its 5.3-inch screen catches, light can be seen through a crack at its base, and its metal exterior is wavy in patches.

Oppo F1

Oppo / 3.5/5 / $299 / oppomobile.com/au

The price of the Oppo F1 defines it as a budget Android phone but its features exceed expectations. This phone offers an 8-megapixel front-facing camera and 13-megapixel rear camera with fast autofocus plus a few processing extras, including a built-in animated GIF creator and a mode that combines four pictures into a sharp, 50-megapixel photo, if you’re able to keep the phone still enough. The F1 also boasts a five-inch touchscreen, dual SIM card slots, 16GB storage expandable to 128GB, and a metal body that gives it a premium look.

BlackBerry Priv

BlackBerry / 3.5/5 / $995 / optus.com.au

BlackBerry’s comeback phone has two things going for it. First is a unique design. Its 5.4-inch touchscreen slides up to reveal a four-line keyboard for quick email responses. It’s also touch-sensitive and its shortcuts (like sweeping a finger up to add a suggested word) are useful timesavers. Its second plus is Google Android. This BlackBerry not only uses Google’s software but makes it extra secure with its own patches, and lets users restrict app permissions. Its keyboard is not as well designed as the Bold of old, and its 18-megapixel camera lags, but this comeback kid is worth consideration.

Alcatel Go Play

Alcatel / 3/5 / $299 / kmart.com.au

Alcatel delivers a budget phone with an emphasis on being tough rather than fashionable. The 5-inch Android phone is designed to survive knocks, bumps, and splashes, boasting an IP67 dust and water-resistance rating. You just have to remember to rinse it in freshwater after a dunk. It comes in five colour combinations with a rubberised backing, and users can add a 32GB memory card to boost the 4GB on board. Its 8-megapixel and 5-megapixel cameras are adequate although noticeably slow in focusing. If you’re tough on phones and happy with basic features, the Go Play may suit.