As festival season is upon us I ask which are the top 5 phones for festivals.

This is undoubtedly one of the most intriguing questions to ponder as each festival goer may have different desires on what they wish to do during a festival.

They may also be looking for a second mobile phone to take to a festival or be looking for a new main phone.

Within this mix of requirements we should consider the following:

• Cost – Is the mobile phone cheap to replace if it gets stolen.
• Camera – Can you capture excellent festival photos and videos.
• Battery – Will the phone stay charged throughout a multi-day festival.
• Waterproof – Is the mobile phone protected against the elements.

So let us take a look at a variety of the best phones out today and see if they are fit for festivals.

5. Samsung Galaxy S4 mini

The Samsung Galaxy S4 mini makes for a great compact phone choice that at £330 SIM free comes in an awful lot cheaper than the Galaxy S4 or Galaxy S5. As an Android phone it comes with YouTube built-in so it will be easy to share your festival videos online.

Cost: Mid-range

Camera: 8MP

Battery: 300 hours standby

Waterproof: No

4. Apple iPhone 5c

The Apple iPhone 5c is a fashionable smartphone aimed at young adults with a range of differing colours from blue to white. Price wise at £440 SIM free this is an expensive piece of kit but if you have to be seen with an Apple device then this one is probably the right choice as the iPhone 5s costs even more!

Cost: Expensive

Camera: 8MP

Battery: 250 hours standby

Waterproof: No

3. Motorola Moto E

The Moto E is a great festival phone for those who want a second handset to take to the festival. With a price tag of £80 on pay as you go and £90 SIM free this mobile phone will not create a devastating situation if it is stolen.

Cost: Cheap

Camera: 5MP

Battery: 384 hours standby

Waterproof: Yes

2. Nokia Lumia 1020

The Nokia Lumia 1020 has the most camera megapixels so this is a great festival choice for those who want extreme clarity in their pictures or videos. If you really want to get technical you can even adjust the shutter speed and the Xenon flash performs much better than the LED flash’s we usually see on camera phones.

This Lumia phone also has a screen designed to be visible under direct sunlight and you can also use this smartphone whilst wearing gloves. Cost wise the Lumia 1020 is £390 on PAYG and SIM free or from £17pm on contract.

Cost: Mid-range

Camera: 41MP

Battery: 384 hours standby

Waterproof: No

1. Sony Xperia Z1

The Sony Xperia Z1 is a great all-rounder for the festival scene with a super powerful battery, incredible camera and it has both water and dust resistance.

Social Live is pre-installed allowing you to broadcast your videos in real-time onto Facebook so you can share the festival experience with friends. SteadyShot ensures you videos are of a high quality and Superior Auto picks the right camera settings for you automatically as day turns into night or sun turns into rain!

The Sony Xperia Z1 can be picked up for £320 SIM free or from £15.71pm on a contract.

Cost: Mid-range

Camera: 20.7MP

Battery: 880 hours standby

Waterproof: Yes

And so there we have it. In my opinion the Sony Xperia Z1 is the best festival phone. Do you agree?

Written by: Michael Brown