Cell phones & services

Cell phone & service selector

Sort our Ratings based on features, brands and other factors.

What's behind our cell phone & service Ratings?

Experts at our National Testing and Research Center tested 75 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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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 (8)

Recommended models are standout choices with high scores. They include CR Best Buys, which offer exceptional value. When narrowing your choices among models, weigh performance, features, price, and attributes that matter to you, such as color, size, or style.

Smart phones (67)

Recently reviewed cell phones & services

Samsung Trender (Tested)

The Samsung Trender is a cell phone designed for use on the Sprint Nextel network, including its 1xRTT network. This sliding style model has a physical QWERTY keyboard, a touch-screen display, Bluetooth for wireless hands-free communication, a 1.2-megapixel camera, and a music player.