What's A Good Cell Phone To Buy TOP

The main network choices are Verizon, AT&T, and the recently merged T-Mobile/Sprint, but there are other carriers, too, such as MetroPCS, Boost, Cricket, and Virgin, that may be worth considering. If you plan to buy your smartphone from your carrier along with your service, make sure that they offer the phone you want. We recommend buying an unlocked phone when possible because it will work out to be cheaper in the long run and give you the freedom to change carriers in the future.

what's a good cell phone to buy

Service providers are highly motivated to sell you the most expensive plan they can manage. Try not to get caught up in their salesmanship. Research the features you actually need and want from your cellular plan. The most expensive area of your bill will be data coverage; Consider the amount of data you may actually need in a given month, and use that as negotiation leverage when discussing a new plan.

What's the best phone in 2023? It may seem like a simple question, but it's anything but. Smartphones are so good these days, and while it's great having so many excellent options to choose from, it also means that finding the perfect one for you can be a challenge.

That's why we're here to help. Below, you'll find our picks for the best phones you can buy right now. Whether you're a longtime iPhone fan, are a diehard Android user, or you're open to any smartphone, we think you'll find something on this list that'll suit you perfectly.

The Google Pixel series of phones, specifically the Pixel 6 and Pixel 7, have an exclusive feature called Magic Eraser. With Magic Eraser, you can get rid of unwanted objects in a photo, such as people in the background or things like power lines. As of today, Magic Eraser is becoming available to all Android phones and iPhone users through Google One.

I'm that 5G guy. I've actually been here for every "G." I've reviewed well over a thousand products during 18 years working full-time at PCMag.com, including every generation of the iPhone and the Samsung Galaxy S. I also write a weekly newsletter, Fully Mobilized, where I obsess about phones and networks.

Although buying an unlocked phone may not save you money at checkout, it can be a better value in the long run. Unlocked phones give you the freedom to shop around and move between carriers for the best deal when needed. You can also resell an unlocked phone at any time if you want to upgrade.

Sure, you can spend a few hundred dollars on a brand-new midrange phone, but you also might be able to score one of last year's flagship models, which likely offers better specs and performance, for the same midrange price. When new phones are released, older models are usually discounted, and carriers frequently offer the same, or similar, promotions on these phones as they do on the new versions.

Look for guaranteed trade-in promotions from carriers or manufacturers and compare them with prices at Best Buy and Gazelle. Dedicated trade-in sites aren't quite as seamless as swapping your old phone out to the same store where you're picking up your new one, but they often pay more money. Just be sure to give an accurate assessment of the quality of your phone for the best estimate. Samsung, in particular, is good about accepting trade-ins, especially old iPhones and Pixels.

Even the most expensive phone is basically just a fancy brick if it doesn't have service. There are a lot of options out there beyond AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon, and they can save you a lot of money. Once you find the right phone, head over to our story on the best cheap phone plans to find the right cost-effective service for you.

Phone screens with any operating system and price point have gotten bigger through the years with many topping 6 inches diagonally. That can be good news for aging eyes. iPhones make up nearly 60 percent of the U.S. market; most of the rest are Android phones.

The Android operating system is also ideal for those who like to play around with the phone's interface, layout and app selection. Sure, iPhone now lets you add widgets, but it happened 10 years after Android offered it.

Perhaps you want a large-screen Samsung Galaxy smartphone with a bundled stylus pen? Or a Google Pixel phone with an amazing camera? An inexpensive Motorola model? All these brands make Android phones, as do Alcatel, Asus, HTC, Nokia, OnePlus, Sony, ZTE and others. Amazon's Kindle devices are based on Android, too.

iPhone. Apple phones also work with iTunes software on a PC, which you might be using to manage media on your computer. And Apple Mac users can sync their phones and computers with a USB cable or even over Wi-Fi. Plus, iPhone synchronizes with iCloud, where you get 5 gigabytes of storage for free. It is used to back up your important files and wirelessly sync content among multiple devices.

When Apple releases an iOS update, you'll be notified on your phone, regardless of what carrier you use. So almost every iPhone user is on the same, newest version of the operating system, which means a more consistent experience for everyone.

Android. Smartphone owners need to be aware that, unlike Apple, which controls its operating system update, Android devices are more fragmented in the version of operating system they are running, Ackerman says. Often your carrier dictates the updates.

This article was co-authored by Mobile Kangaroo. Mobile Kangaroo is a full service repair shop and Apple Authorized Service Provider headquartered in Mountain View, CA. Mobile Kangaroo has been repairing electronic devices such as computers, phones, and tablets, for over 19 years, with locations in over 20 cities.There are 10 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been viewed 170,232 times.

Pick out the best cell phone providers with this round-up, and begin your journey to finding the right carrier for you. Packed with providers that are sure to put your needs first with excellent customer service and the technology you need, this list can guide you to make the switch without the stress.

Given that it's an MVNO, what cell network does Mint Mobile use? It uses T-Mobile's infrastructure for signal, which has some of the best 5G coverage across America right now. The only real problem with this is that Mint users will suffer from deprioritization on the network, so during periods and areas of heavy usage, speeds will slow to allow regular T-Mobile customers priority access.

The range of phones on Verizon is decent, including the latest iPhone 14 lineup, the Google Pixel 7 Pro, and Samsung's flagship models too, like the S23 Ultra. There are some good mid-range options, and a handful of budget handsets too. If you go pre-paid, you need to factor in the cost of financing a handset or buying one outright, which will add a monthly cost. If you already own your phone and don't want to change it, you can bring that across with you to save more money.

What's more, T-Mobile actually scores higher than other big carriers on customer satisfaction, which is a real advantage. Smaller cell companies often achieve better satisfaction ratings, but here you get the perks of a larger provider with a big network and the customer service of a smaller one. If you're looking to balance reliability, speed, and a carrier that cares, T-Mobile is a good bet. It's also highly rated for video streaming so is ideal for anyone that uses their data network for this regularly.

Verizon Wireless is our best cell phone provider for 2023 and has been at the top of our guide for the past three years. Why? It's one of the biggest, sure, but it gets superior scores for reliability, speed, and network coverage. With solid coverage throughout the majority of the country (although there are few patchy zones in the northwest and mid-west), and a large 5G network, Verizon will suit anyone looking for a strong signal and consistent data service.

Verizon isn't the cheapest carrier, but it does currently have an amazing Unlimited 5G deal for new customers, which starts at $25 when you bring in your own phone and agree to paper-free billing. You do get what you pay for, but not everyone can afford to commit to such expensive cell phone plans each month.

Given the reliability of Verizon's 5G network, you can look to offset costs with your home internet provider by getting an unlimited 5G plan from Verizon and using it for the majority of your home broadband needs. If you find yourself out of the home more often than in it, this is a good way to get fantastic cell service and save a little money elsewhere.

Xfinity is a communications company offering not just a mobile network, but cable television, internet, telephone, and wireless. I you plan to be a customer for your home internet, then Xfinity will offer you a better deal on a cell plan, too.

The provider's value lies in its customization: you only pay for what you use. This approach can save usage-conscious customers a lot of money compared to an unlimited everything plan from a big three cell phone company. If, for example, you only want unlimited talking and texting, it costs just $8 a month. You can also always add minutes, texts, or data to your account, should your needs change.

One downside of US mobile is that you are limited when it comes to the actual selection of phones, so if you have your eye on a particular handset, you do need to check whether or not US Mobile stocks it.

However, its unlimited plans have a max video streaming resolution of 480p. DVD-quality streaming is fine and consumes less data than HD streaming, but it would be nice to have the higher-quality option, especially since phone screens now support high resolutions. 041b061a72