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We find the 10 best options, so you can make informed decisions on tons of products and services.
Mobile devices are any small and portable electronic devices that can connect to the internet. The terms mobile devices and smartphones are often used synonymously. All Android and iPhone smartphones are considered mobile devices, as are tablets, e-readers, fitness trackers, and handheld gaming consoles.
All mobile devices have a few things in common. First, they’re wireless and battery-powered. That enables you to take them with you wherever you go, without being constantly tethered to an external battery pack or wall outlet.
Second, all mobile devices are equipped with WiFi, Bluetooth, cellular data service, or all 3. This enables them to connect to the internet and to other devices, increasing their potential usability.
Most modern mobile devices are controlled by a touchscreen. In addition, voice assistants like Apple’s Siri and Google’s Assistant are becoming increasingly common.
Mobile devices are virtually ubiquitous because of how powerful they are. A smartphone is essentially a tiny computer that you carry around in your pocket. It’s infinitely customizable thanks to the Apple App Store (for iPhones) and Google Play (for Android), which enable you to add any apps you want to your device.
With so many outstanding phone deals to choose from right now, how do you decide which one is right for you? We’ll walk you through some of the key factors to consider when comparing the best phone deals in 2024.
A good place to start when choosing a new smartphone is to figure out your budget. There’s a mobile device to match every budget, and most models are available with different features at different price points.
Expect to pay around $500 for a high-quality smartphone with a modern camera system and plenty of storage space. High-end mobile devices, however, can cost more than $1,000 for the latest model.
Smartphones vary widely in size, and many models now come in both standard and mini sizes. If you plan to use your mobile device to watch videos or shoot detailed photos, then a bigger screen can be a major benefit. On the other hand, if you prioritize portability above all else, then opting for a smaller phone can make it easier to fit your device into your pocket.
Figuring out how much storage space you need can be tricky. The amount of space that photos and videos take up increases with every generation of smartphones as resolution improves, and apps have gotten bigger over time as well.
Smartphones are available with different amounts of storage. On most models, you can choose from 128GB, 256GB, or 512GB of storage space.
A good place to start is to see how much space your current device has and how much you’ve used. If you’re near your storage limit, you’ll likely want to look for more storage space in your next device.
When in doubt, opt for more storage space. It’s better to have a little extra than to run out and have to start moving or deleting photos.
Camera quality has been one of the biggest areas of improvement in this year’s generation of smartphones. Many devices now have multiple lenses so you can zoom in or take wide-angle photos.
If your smartphone is your primary camera and you love to shoot photos and videos, then pay close attention to details about the camera quality. For example, check out how many megapixels the camera has, whether it has multiple lenses, and how fast the autofocus tracks on subjects.
Battery life is key to getting the most out of your smartphone, especially if you’re on your device throughout the day. Most phones offer 8-12 hours of battery life, which is just enough to get you through a whole day without charging.
Smartphones haven’t traditionally been known for their durability, but that’s beginning to change. Some new models offer waterproof casings to save them from spills, while others have shatterproof screens to protect against drops. Of course, you can always add a case to your device after-market if you don’t want to pay upfront for these features.
The processors onboard a mobile device play a huge role in the user experience. Faster processors mean less lag time when you’re gaming, taking photos, and watching videos. Look out for ultra-fast processors that improve performance for virtual assistants and other AI-enabled features.
Many mobile phone plans offer unlimited talk, text, and data. That means you can make as many calls, send as many texts, and surf the web as much as you want without monthly limits.
Most carriers offer unlimited Android and iPhone plans. These plans allow you to get the most out of your phone, since you can stream videos, upload photos to social media, and message your friends and family without worrying about how much data you’re using.
With the best phone service for iPhone and Android devices, you may be able to pay month-to-month, or you may need to sign up for a 1- or 2-year contract. Most plans are billed monthly, but some allow you to prepay up to a year in advance for a discount.
Be sure to keep an eye out for deals when you purchase a new phone. For example, some carriers offer a year of free unlimited talk, text, and data when you buy a new iPhone or Google phone.
How much do mobile devices cost?
New smartphones cost around $500-$1,000. The price depends on what model you choose, how much storage space you need, and whether you want a smaller or larger screen size. Some carriers offer reduced prices on Android or iPhone plans in combination with service contracts.
Do I need to sign a new mobile plan contract to get a new mobile device?
With most carriers, you can upgrade your smartphone at any time without a new mobile plan contract. However, you may be able to get a deal on a new phone if you sign up for a new contract.
Will I get a warranty when I buy a mobile device?
Most new smartphones come with a warranty against manufacturer’s defects. However, these warranties don’t protect against spills, drops, or other accidental breakage.
Mint Mobile gives you access to 5G, cutting-edge technology with high network speed and reliability. Plans also come with unlimited talking and texting, so you never need to worry about topping up or checking if you’re near the limit. And by connecting to your network's servers through the internet, their WiFi messaging and calling feature can also be useful when overseas.
"With Mint Mobile, you will get reliable service and fast download speeds. They have the fastest download speeds of any mobile network operator I’ve tried,” says Joe Troyer, CEO of tech company Digital Triggers.
After a few months of using the plan, the customer support team will reach out to help you select one that better suits your usage needs. You can keep your 4G LTE device if you decide on Mint’s “Bring Your Own Phone” program. Although the connection will slow down if you reach the monthly data limit, your service will remain active.
Why we chose Mint Mobile: Mint Mobile offers robust coverage and cost-effective and customizable plans to match your specific data usage patterns. They’re also committed to providing personalized recommendations based on your usage, improving your experience.
Our experience: We found Mint Mobile's service highly reliable in urban areas, with a strong signal on their 5G and 4G LTE networks. While several new phones maintained consistent and dependable connections, a few older cell phones weren’t updated and required additional support during the setup process.
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Tello offers new prices, including unlimited nationwide talking and texting, with free calls to over 60 countries. And with the “Build Your Own” subscriptions, you can tweak data or minutes to further lower the cost.
“The coverage is superb, and I can make phone calls from almost anywhere I go without any difficulty,” says Michael Collins, managing director of IT company SphereIT.UK. He also states, "4G speeds are consistently fast and responsive.”
All of Tello's default and customizable plans offer 4G and 5G LTE data and mobile hotspot sharing. When you reach your monthly limit, they downgrade your network to 2G, which even comes with the “No Data” custom subscription.
Why we chose Tello: Tello offers unlimited international calling to over 60 countries—this can be useful if you have family living overseas and want to stay in touch. We could opt for “Build Your Own” plans starting from 1GB/month if we didn’t need as much data and only wanted unlimited texting and calling.
Our experience: Tello’s plans were straightforward to set up and connect, and the SIM card worked with various new and old phones. Throughout our testing, we experienced consistent cell coverage within the US for all our calls, including international ones.
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Ultra Mobile sells low-cost prepaid cell phone plans with unlimited domestic and international calls to 80+ countries on T-Mobile’s cellular network. They offer three different single-month plans with 250MB, 2GB, or Unlimited data. Option to renew on multi-month plans and unlock further savings is available after the first month of service.All Ultra Mobile’s plans include 5G and 4G LTE coverage up to varying data limits, unlimited global text, and mobile hotspot.
Prepaid mobile plans serve a certain purpose and as long as you know what it entails, then Ultra Mobile may be a good choice for you. If you’re in the U.S. on a temporary basis, have reasons to not want to use your credit card, or don’t want anything more than a one-month commitment, Ultra Mobile’s prepaid phone plans are a viable option for you.
visited a mobile plan provider this month
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