Photo: Apple

We know, we know. We’re just courting trouble with this post. No area in electronics is more competitive than smartphones right now and to do a top three list will, for many people, be heresy, particularly if their device is left off the list. Nonetheless, some people still want snapshots, and this is what this is: a snapshot of the best mobile phones released in 2010.

iPhone 4

You knew the iPhone 4 would be here. And you either celebrated this, or lamented it. The truth is, as the software catalogue for iOS gets better, the better the devices inherently becomes. Outside of that, though, the much-debated retina display, improved form factor with glass at the front and back, a 5MP camera capable of 720p HD recording, as well as the inclusion of the new mobile OS makes this iPhone 4 a shoe-in on anybody’s list. Sure the antenna problems are a shocking oversight, but 1.7 million people in three days just can’t be wrong (or they’re all swimming in the Kool-aid, not just sipping it).

HTC Desire

Photo: HTC

If you have been reading this site for any continuous period, you would know we think highly of HTC as a mobile phones manufacturer. Their 2010 got off to an unbelievable start with the one-two punch combo of the HTC Desire and HTC Legend and though the US-only HTC EVO 4G hasn’t amounted to its promise, anyone’s allowed a misstep. It’s surprising, then, that this second of our top three mobile phones of 2010 was released at the tail-end of Q1, but the HTC Desire is still tops. You can read our full review here to see why we love it so.

Sony Xperia X10 mini

Photo: Sony Ericsson

We were caught in a bit of a quandary as to whether to award this position to the Sony Xperia X10 mini or to the surprisingly good Samsung Galaxy S. The Sony Xperia X10 Mini harkens back to the days of the Motorola Razr where small phones were all the rage, but the clever design, implemented with intelligent UI usage of Android gives this phone that little bit more than just aesthetics for size. And let’s be fair, Sony Ericsson need a major victory. It’s also pretty affordable, to boot, which helps a ton.

So which is it for you? The iPhone 4, HTC Desire, or the Sony Xperia X10 Mini? Or, if not these, which other phone would you have on this list instead?