What is a smartphone equivalent or better than the iPhone 5?

My dad told me yesterday that I can have £250 for Christmas -yeabuddy- and I pretty much need a phone (mine got stolen, so I'm using my samsung genio). I'm willing to put money in and I'd love an iPhone 5 but are there any alternatives that are just as good if not better? So far it's pretty much between a Galaxy Nexus and the iPhone but I'm open to suggestions 'cause I've not looked round in depth. Christmas is an age away anyway!

Oh, the iPhone price is pretty much as high a price as I'll go I think (£529).It's also gotta be SIM-free 'cause I'm mid-contract.

Samsung galaxy s iii

IPhone absolutely sucks. Get anything but an iPhone.
I suggest a Samsung phone-I'd say Samsung Galaxy III. Or Galaxy Advance which is good too.

But I'm not sure about them being SIM free, check that. Anyways, just don't get an iPhone.

Galaxy s3. Period.

I guess equivalents would be the Galaxy S III & the One X.

Never ever ever ever include a phrase like:

"I'm willing to put money in and I'd love an iPhone 5 but are there any alternatives that are just as good if not better? " IF You want a SHORT answer

FYI Caveat emptor
When the dust settles the IP5 will turn out to be a thinner, lighter, faster iPhone4S and the 1st phone that typically breaches the £1K contract tariff. The IP5 is a Dual-Core phone

TWO new features are on iPhone5 NOT on the iPhone4S
i) LTE ii) Simultaneous HD video and image recording
if you include the customised A6 chip to make things go faster*** THREE NEW FEATURES. [***optimised for the IP5]

Don't worry it's not all Doom & Gloom
http://www.mobilechoiceuk.com/News/22818/Best_smartphones_mobile_phones_tablets_2012.aspx
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/...wards.html
http://mobilenewspedia.com/reward-the-galaxy-s-iii-as-the-best-phone-in-europe

Iphones are seriously overpriced for what they are and. The prices/ tariffs on any/ every network defy gravity and logic. 4G LTE is only being offered on EE (other networks 2013 and it ain't cheap!)

The SGS III well people with "knowledge" I can only google are throwing awards at it, and you have to accept this one law… Most if not all phones will cost less than an Iphone

The Samsung Galaxy III is QUAD-CORE. If you do not want / need all SGS III features, the SGS II is a cheaper near equivalent alternative, it was winning awards when the SGS III was a blueprint!

Here is a side by side SGS II v SG NEXUS and below that an answer, which is in the main relevant, I note SIM FREE so ignore parts "Contract" the SGS II is the better of the two eg camera http://www.gsmarena.com/...hone2=3621