Ready for a new phone? If you’re here, the answer is probably yes. But which one deserves the next two years of your life?
If there’s one thing that’s certain, it’s that everyone’s smartphone needs are different. But after three weeks of hardcore research, I determined which features are most important to the average consumer. I tested 13 different phones, consulted with industry professionals, pored over online reviews, and investigated consumer comments — and the results were unanimous: Apple’s iPhone 6 is the number-one smartphone you can buy.
Sure, the iPhone 6 might be the overall best device around, but that doesn’t mean it’s for absolutely everyone. Some people prefer Android devices, and others might want a larger display — either way, keep on reading to see our top recommendations for folks on a budget, photography lovers, and more.
How we chose the best smartphone
I started my quest for the best smartphone with a lot of reading. I spent nearly 40 hours investigating more than 60 reviews and buyer’s guides from nine online tech publications I’ve grown to trust through years of experience working at Engadget. I also pored over customer reviews from top retailers, spoke with industry professionals from AT&T, and conducted a few polls on Facebook.
Over the course of my research, I identified the most popular smartphone features and use cases by diving into consumer comments, worldwide cellphone industry stats, and by interviewing smartphone users of all ages. I learned that regardless of occupation or income level, more than half of all U.S. mobile phone owners A) make room in their budget for a smartphone and B) use it for more than two hours each day. Why? Smartphones are the pocketable hardware behind almost all the internet-based services folks use on a daily basis. They’re also one of the most universal pieces of technology in the world – NBA players and blue-collar workers both use the iPhone 6.
Since almost every popular app or service (or an acceptable alternative) is available on all major platforms, smartphone buyers are mostly concerned with the following five things:
- A stellar camera
- Size
- Performance and dependability
- Long battery life
- Price (on-contract)
Based on those findings, I narrowed my initial selection of 27 phones down to the 13 most qualified contenders. Afterward, I popped in my personal SIM (some required using a call-forwarding service) and used each one exclusively for a day, texting, browsing the web, and making no less than five calls. During much of that time, I carried all of them with me everywhere I went (including a Jessie J concert) and took a crazy amount of pictures. Needless to say, I got quite a few “did you steal those?” stares. Anyhow, the important part is that after all that research, I reached a conclusion: Apple’s iPhone 6 is the best overall smartphone you can get.
Other smartphones to consider
The best unlocked smartphone
OnePlus One
- For $300, no other phone comes close to what the OnePlus One offers – Engadget
- 64GB version costs just $350
- 7.5/10 CNET Editor's Choice Rating
Folks buy unlocked phones for two main reasons: to escape the reigns of a two-year contract, and to save money. (Head to the end of this article for an explanation of unlocked phones.) At just $300, the (16GB) OnePlus One offers the most smartphone for your buck, period. No other device in this price range can compete with its smooth performance, cheap storage (the 64GB model costs only $50 more), 13MP camera, and on-screen gestures – double-tapping the display wakes the device, and it’s the most useful smartphone feature I’ve ever enjoyed. Its 5.5-inch IPS display has incredibly natural colors, and Engadget says it’s even easier on the eyes than Samsung’s Galaxy S5. Additionally, it’s one of the most comfortable phones I’ve ever held.
Another advantage to the OnePlus One is that almost every aspect of the phone can be tweaked and customized to your liking, thanks to CyanogenMod firmware. However, its Android-based operating system is young (and undergoing change), meaning it’s more bug-prone than other handsets – for instance, I have to restart mine several times a week to overcome a recurring Wi-Fi connectivity issue. But considering how affordable it is, the worst thing about the One might be its somewhat limited availability. Fortunately, invites are no longer required to buy the thing, though there is a small (and rather odd) catch: Without an invitation, you can only make orders on Tuesdays.
The best waterproof phone
Sony Xperia Z3
- The Sony Xperia Z3 is Sony's most formidable to date with a formidable display and promising features that easily give Android competition a run for their money – CNET
- Incredible battery life
- 88/100 Engadget Product Score
Waterproof phones generally come at the cost of a low-res display, poor camera, and bulky build (take the Kyocera Brigadier, for example), but most people don’t want to make that compromise. Luckily, the Sony Xperia Z3 is a waterproof smartphone that offers top-notch performance and an elegant design. There’s also Samsung’s Galaxy S5 Active, but out of the two, the Z3 has the highest Ingress Protection ratings (IP55 and IP68), meaning it isn’t just water resistant; it’s ready for underwater photography in the Caribbean. Speaking of photography, the Xperia Z3’s 20.7-megapixel rear-facing camera didn’t perform as well as the Galaxy S5 Active in low light. But, in well-lit situations, I was able to capture stunning photos and 4K video – once you master its auto-brightness nuances and somewhat complicated settings menu, that is.
What about build and performance? Engadget’s James Trew says the Z3 has “epic battery life,” which translates into about three days’ worth of use. CNET says its premium feel is hard to beat, and The Verge calls it a top-tier phone with a unique look and speedy performance. All in all, the Xperia Z3 is a true flagship device that doesn’t require a $70 LifeProof case to survive a dip in the sink.
Best cheap smartphone
Motorola Moto G
- If what you really want is just a basic smartphone, this is absolutely the one to get – PC World
- Runs near-stock Android
- Costs only $179 unlocked
Depending on your contract status, you might be eligible for an iPhone 6 at $200 down. Just remember: You’ll end up paying more than the full $649 over the next 24 months in the form of monthly payments. If you can’t justify spending that kind of money on a phone (subsidized or not), and don’t want to participate in a year-long program such asAT&T Next, The Verge, Engadget, and CNET all agree that the second-generation Motorola Moto G is the number-one budget handset available. It costs $180 off-contract, has a serviceable camera, and its battery survives a full day of active use – all of which are exceptional features given its price range. And after using it for an entire day, I was genuinely impressed with the overall performance.
Unfortunately, there are a couple of drawbacks: The Moto G has only 8GB of storage and doesn’t support LTE. So if you can’t live without the latest and greatest network speeds and plenty of room for photos, consider the $99 Nokia Lumia 635. It isn’t quite as speedy as the Moto G, but that’s easily forgiven considering its cheaper price, LTE capability, and MicroSD card support (up to 128GB!). Want an even cheaper option? The $30 Lumia 520 is about as low as you can go without hitting feature phone bedrock.
The best large-screen phone
Samsung Galaxy Note 4
- The Galaxy Note 4 is the best large phone on the market – even better than the iPhone 6 Plus – Engadget
- Best phablet-specific features
- 4.8-star Best Buy user rating
Steve Jobs famously said that no one would buy a big phone. Obviously, he was wrong. If you’re part of the swiftly growing fanbase for larger, more productive smartphones, the Galaxy Note 4 is the best device you can buy (and maybe fit in your back pocket). It has a stellar 13MP camera, a premium build, plenty of horsepower, and the most gorgeous display on the market. Top-shelf specs aside, though, it’s the only “phablet” designed with power users in mind. Take the built-in S Pen, for example: I didn’t handwrite as many notes as I imagined I would, but it’s far too useful to be considered a gimmick. The writing experience is incredibly natural, and Evernote users will enjoy the integration with Samsung’s S Note software.
Now, about that elephant in the room… Why didn’t I pick the 6 Plus, LG G3, or Nexus 6, you ask? To answer in true socratic form, what’s the point of a humongous phone if it doesn’t make use of the extra landscape? You’ll get much more productive power out of the Note 4 (as well as a fingerprint reader, IR Blaster, blood oxygen and UV sensor) for the same on-contract price as the 6 Plus.
The best pocket-size phone
Sony Xperia Z3 Compact
- If you are looking for a feature-packed phone that looks fantastic and performs brilliantly, then you'll be very pleased with the Xperia Z3 Compact – TechRadar
- Exceptional battery life and waterproof build
- 8/10 CNET Editor's Choice Rating
Most of the time, a smaller phone means weaker specs. Not so with the Sony Xperia Z3 Compact. With the exception of its smaller 4.6-inch display and battery, it’s essentially a spec-for-spec recreation of the Xperia Z3 – and yes, that includes the 20.7MP rear-facing camera and 4K video capabilities. I honestly wasn’t able to notice a single difference in performance between the two, and believe me, I tried. The Galaxy Alphaand HTC One Remix are two other options in the small phone category, and while they’re both sleek-looking, they don’t offer the same overall performance, camera quality, and battery life as the Z3 Compact.
The best camera phone
Apple iPhone 6 Plus
- The best smartphone camera I've ever used – The Verge
- Killer video and photo chops
- 9/10 CNET Editor's Choice Rating
When it comes to mobile photography, you can’t judge a smartphone by its megapixels alone. Both the hardware and software must be considered, and that makes choosing the best camera phone somewhat tricky. In terms of overall top performance, the iPhone 6 Plus reigns supreme. The reason? To quote The Verge, it “goes from 0 to a good picture faster than anything else.” There are plenty of other handsets with more than eight megapixels, but between the phone’s incredible optical image stabilization software (which is unique to the 6 Plus), effortless operation, and top-notch video chops, it’s the most talented of the bunch. No one wants to deal with laggy autofocus when their child blows out the candles on his first birthday cake. Low light, sunlight, bumpy car ride – doesn’t matter. The 6 Plus is going to perform regardless of the conditions.
Now, in terms of raw specs, the LG G3, Note 4 and Xperia Z3 are all top contenders, with the Note 4 pulling slightly ahead (again, this is a really tough category). The Xperia Z3’s 20.7-megapixel shooter performs extremely well, but only in well-lit circumstances. The Note 4 actually takes a more crisp and naturally colored photo than the iPhone 6 Plus, but I had to suffer through a variety of jitters and blurry photos to get there. Finally, the LG G3 is pretty similar to its Samsung counterparts on paper, but is worth mentioning because of its laser autofocus feature, which, according to Digital Trends, is noticeably quicker than the competition.
The Best Android smartphone
Motorola Moto X
- The 2014 Moto X is a huge step forward from last year's model, and it's finally equipped to compete with a sea of strong competitors – Engadget
- Motorola's additional software features that are thoroughly useful
- 8.3/10 CNET Editor's Choice Rating
Contrary to what you might expect, this section isn’t about determining the most popular non-iPhone; it’s about which phone offers the best Android 5.0 Lollipopexperience. And as much as I like Google’s own Nexus 6, its six-inch display is too large for most people. Instead, let me introduce you to the second-generation Moto X with a 5.2-inch screen. It’s snappy, well-built, runs near-stock Android, and includes several unique software features (like Active Notifications and Moto Voice) that give it a leg up on the competition. The Verge calls it “the best Android smartphone ever made,” and I’m inclined to agree.
Now, Android Lollipop aside, you can’t go wrong with the Galaxy S5, LG G3, or HTC One M8. Looking for the most bang for your buck? The GS5 has the best display around, a fingerprint reader and health sensors, a water-resistant build, and a solid camera. The G3 isn’t as feature-rich as the GS5, but reviews across the internet commend its laser-equipped camera, premium feel, and speedy performance. Finally, if you’re a sucker for design, you’ll appreciate that the HTC One M8 is as prestigious-looking as it is powerful.
