Cell phones & services

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What's behind our cell phone & service Ratings?

Experts at our National Testing and Research Center tested 104 models in cell phones & services to see which ones perform best.

We look for:

Overall score
Overall score is based mainly on Ease of use, Voice quality, Messaging, and Battery life. The displayed score is out of a total of 100 points. Phones are listed in performance order, within carriers. Due to test upgrades, results may vary from past Ratings.
Ease of use
Ease of use mainly considers the phone's various features and modes, including the step-saving functions for making and receiving calls, and display and keypad readability under different lighting conditions. We also factor in features and capabilities, such as camera, music, Web browsing, and broadband connections, as well as the phone's size and weight.
Voice quality
Voice quality considers listening quality which reflects what you hear; talking, what's heard by other phones. Tests were conducted in noisy and quiet environments using live phone calls indicated by carrier used.
Messaging
Messaging mainly assesses keyboard and keypad ergonomics, text-messaging features, its support for Microsoft Outlook, and whether or not the phone can open various e-mail attachments.
Battery life
Battery life represents mainly talk time under strong and weak network-signal conditions, as well as battery consumption performing tasks that involve data, standby, display, and other factors.

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Recommended cell phones & services

Recommended cell phones & services are standout choices with high scores. They include CR Best Buys, which offer exceptional value. When narrowing your choices, weigh features, price, and attributes that matter to you.

Recommended cell phones & services

Cell phone & service buying guide

To find the cell phone & service that is right for you, read our expert advice on which features to consider and how to find the best value.

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Buying guide video

Cell phones & services Ratings

Find out which Cell phones & services scored the best on our tests. Our tests are based not only on government and industry standards but also on standards our specialists think should apply, which re-create the experience you will have with the product.

Latest cell phone & service ratings

Cell phones are some of the hottest products on the market, as shown by the excitement that surrounds newly-released smart phones and upgraded cell phone features and cell phone providers. In many families, every member has a cell phone. So it's wise to do some research before making your cell-phone buying decision. If you're looking for information about cell phones & services, Consumer Reports is your best resource. Consumer Reports’ cell phone & service reviews will give you honest buying advice that you can trust. Use our cell phone & service buying guide to discover which features are most important to consider. We also provide unbiased Ratings and cell phone & service reviews to help you choose the best cell phone & service for your needs.

Ratings & recommended cell phones & services

Cell phones (3)

Choose a conventional model if you mainly need voice and text-messaging capability, and perhaps a music player and camera (most models are compact and are priced between $20 and $150 or come free with a two-year contract). The keypad and overall operation is generally straightforward. All allow you to store frequently used numbers and to send and receive text messages. Many have cameras and support for wireless Bluetooth headsets for hands-free communication. Many can access high-speed data networks to enjoy Web browsing, music and video-based services. Other capabilities might include a touch screen, a QWERTY keyboard, a full browser, a multi-megapixel camera, memory-card storage for music and pictures, and more options for custom ring tones, games, and other services.

Most phones work only with a specific carrier, so you must decide whether to stay with your current provider or select a new one when shopping for a phone. See Buying Advice for details on choosing a phone.

Average price from carriers and independent online retailers is based on a two-year contract, including rebates. Most carriers also offer one-year contracts. Phones with $0 for price are offered free of charge by the carrier or an online retailer with a new two-year contract. Some phones can also be purchased without a service commitment.

The Ratings rank phones strictly on performance. Note that we have many other competent, low-priced or free phones in our Ratings that also make fine choices. Our recommendations call out those models with the highest overall scores and, except for CR Best Buys, do not factor in price. You may also want to consider other models that scored nearly as well. When narrowing your choice, weigh performance, features, and value.

Smart phones (101)

Smart phones, with their advanced operating systems, larger displays, QWERTY keyboards, and other computer-like features, are a better choice for people who need frequent access to multiple e-mail accounts, a sophisticated organizer for appointments and contacts, the ability to open Office documents, and Internet-based services. One compelling advantage of most smart phones is their ability to access a host of applications consisting of productivity tools, shopping, multimedia, games, travel, news, weather, social, finance, references, etc.

Most phones work only with specific carrier, so you must decide whether to stay with your current provider or select a new one when shopping for a phone. See Buying Advice for more details on choosing a phone.

Recently reviewed cell phones & services

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Samsung Rugby II

(Tested)

The Samsung Rugby II is a cell phone designed for use on the AT&T network, including its HSDPA network. This folding style model has Bluetooth for wireless hands-free communication, a 1.9-megapixel camera, and a music player.

Samsung Rugby II

Samsung Gravity TXT

Samsung Convoy 2

Apple iPhone 4S (16 GB) (AT&T)

Cell phone & service buying guide

Cell phones now allow easier texting, Web surfing, GPS navigation, and social networking while keeping up with their day job--voice calling. Smart phones such as the iPhone and Android-based models are leading the charge. Thanks to their advanced operating systems, they can run all types of applications, from Twitter to games, restaurant guides, shopping assistants, and more. Their cameras are getting better, too. The newest smart phones typically come with 5-, 8-, or higher-megapixel cameras with advanced controls and the ability to take HD videos. And unlike most stand-alone cameras, they provide a multitude of ways to share their content via Facebook, YouTube, e-mail and a new host of Internet-based "cloud" services. The data networks they run on are getting faster, too, enabling them to download and upload large files in less time, provide a better Web-browsing experience, and perform new tricks such as stream high-definition videos, and support video chats via front-facing cameras. Conventional cell phones aren't gathering dust, though. Many of the newest models have large displays, keyboards, and Internet capabilities. Their e-mail and applications aren't as robust as a smart phone's, but they're less complicated to use. And there still are phones with fewer bells and whistles for users with more straightforward needs.