Best Cell Phones

Check out the best cell phones, as rated by Digital Trends expert reviewers.

Best Cell PhonesIt often feels like nothing moves as fast as the mobile phone industry. A new release one day is an old phone the next and history soon after. Cell phones continue to wildly evolve, taking on drastic new forms, shapes and sizes every few months, often with new services and features. Unfortunately, most of us can only afford to buy a new phone once every two years, making our choice all the more important. Below is an up-to-date list of our favorite phones available in the United States. This list covers devices on all of the major US wireless carriers and phones from every major operating system. If it’s one of our favorite devices, it’s here.

  • Samsung Galaxy S II (AT&T)

    We highly recommend the Galaxy S II. More powerful phones will come out, but this will remain a great option for some time. At $200 with a two-year contract, we can't complain.

    Pros Super AMOLED Plus screen is colorful a...

    Cons Plastic construction, AT&T's “4G” data...

    Our Rating: 4.5 Stars   Reader Rating: 4 Stars

    Specifications

    Screen Size 4" - 4.5"
    Features 4G
    Operating System Android
    Carrier AT&T
    Touchscreen Yes

  • Samsung Galaxy Nexus

    The Galaxy Nexus is one of those few phones that is truly different from what came before it.

    Pros New Android Ice Cream Sandwich rocks, ...

    Cons Battery life isn’t great, Many apps do...

    Our Rating: 4.5 Stars  

    Specifications

    Screen Size 4.65
    Features 4G
    Operating System Android
    Bluetooth Bluetooth 3.0
    Carrier Verizon

  • Apple iPhone 4S

    While we have a hard time recommending an upgrade for current iPhone 4 users, the new additions prevent the iPhone from becoming antiquated in a quickly churning smartphone market.

    Pros Ultra-capable camera, Siri voice assis...

    Cons Still nowhere near 4G LTE speeds, No e...

    Our Rating: 4.25 Stars   Reader Rating: 4.5 Stars

    Specifications

    Screen Size 3.5" - 4"
    Carrier AT&T
    Features Front-Facing Camera
    Operating System iOS
    Touchscreen Yes

  • HTC Inspire 4G

    The HTC Inspire 4G is a fantastic Android phone and it's one of the best values on AT&T.

    Pros HTC Sense is great for new and experie...

    Cons No front-facing camera, Speakers are a...

    Our Rating: 4 Stars  

    Specifications

    Screen Size 4" - 4.5"
    Features 4G
    Operating System Android
    Carrier AT&T
    Bluetooth Bluetooth 2.1

  • HTC Sensation 4G

    Consider us impressed. Aside from a few small issues with the shape of its screen and the low amount of internal storage, the HTC Sensation 4G outpaces and outclasses almost every other Android phone.

    Pros 4.3-inch qHD (540x960px) display, 1.2G...

    Cons Only 1GB of free internal storage, Wea...

    Our Rating: 4 Stars  

    Specifications

    Screen Size 4" - 4.5"
    Features 4G
    Operating System Android
    Carrier T-Mobile

  • Samsung Infuse 4G

    The Samsung Infuse 4G is a great phone at a reasonable price if you're looking for an Android phone with a big screen.

    Pros Big 4.5-inch screen, Bright screen, Th...

    Cons Low screen resolution for its size, Pl...

    Our Rating: 4 Stars  

    Specifications

    Screen Size 4.5 in.
    Features 4G
    Operating System Android
    Carrier AT&T
    Speakerphone Full Duplex

  • Samsung Droid Charge

    The Samsung Droid Charge is expensive, but it is also a solid device that you probably won't regret choosing once you leave the store.

    Pros 4G LTE speeds are blazing, 32GB MicroS...

    Cons Plastic shell, Underwhelming specs, In...

    Our Rating: 4 Stars   Reader Rating: 4.5 Stars

    Specifications

    Screen Size 4" - 4.5"
    Features 4G
    Operating System Android
    Carrier Verizon

  • T-Mobile MyTouch 4G Slide

    For the $99 online price, The MyTouch 4G Slide is probably the best bargain on T-Mobile.

    Pros Low price, Impressive dual-core specs,...

    Cons Keyboard is flat, Front camera is only...

    Our Rating: 4 Stars  

    Specifications

    Screen Size 3.5" - 4"
    Features 4G
    Operating System Android
    Carrier T-Mobile
    Touchscreen Yes

  • HTC Amaze 4G

    While we're not sure it's actually worth $60 more than any other dual-core phone, the HTC Amaze 4G holds its own and excels when it comes to taking pictures and video.

    Pros Potent processor and hardware, Great c...

    Cons Strange design, Mediocre battery life,...

    Our Rating: 4 Stars  

    Specifications

    Screen Size 4" - 4.5"
    Features 4G
    Operating System Android
    Carrier T-Mobile
    Bluetooth Yes

  • Motorola Atrix 2

    The Motorola Atrix 2 is a great phone at a price considerably less than its competitors. At $100 with a two-year contract, the Atrix 2 a great buy for anyone on AT&T's network.

    Pros Dual-core processor, High quality scre...

    Cons Poor volume toggle, NinjaBlur UI is ug...

    Our Rating: 4 Stars  

    Specifications

    Screen Size 4" - 4.5"
    Features 4G
    Operating System Android
    Carrier AT&T
    Touchscreen Yes