If you've decided you want to buy a smartphone, but you're unsure what kind, or if you even need one at all, there are plenty of choices on the market right now. There are some good ones for under $500, and many excellent new options that cost more than that. But how do you choose which is right for you? The best smartphones depend upon what your needs are, and what type of person you are. You may have different requirements than others, such as budget or need a phone with apps you use every day. No two phones meet each other's criteria in exactly the same way (for example, an 8-inch smartphone will be very different from a 6-inch phone), so it's important to read reviews to see whether a specific device meets your expectations or not. In this article you'll learn about what we think are the best of the top models out there, and we're going to explain why we've determined them.

iPhone 13 Pro Max | Prices Starting at $1,049 iPhone 12 Mini | Prices Starting at $599 iPhone 11 | Prices Starting at $429 Samsung Galaxy S20 5G Plus | Prices Starting at $1,399 Google Pixel 4A 5G | Prices Starts at $1,199 Nokia 2.3 T | Prices Starting at $999 Apple Watch Series 3 | Prices Starting at $1,199 Huawei Mate 40 Pro 5G | Prices Starts at $799 Motorola Edge 10 Pro 7 5G | Prices Starts at $499 Amazon Echo Dot HD Home | Prices Starts at $49 Apple Ipad mini 9.7in | Prices Starting at $279 Xiaomi Mi Notebook 14 | Prices Starts at $599 OnePlus Nord A300 5G | Prices Starts at $499 Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 4 | Prices Starts at $599

Top 5 Smartphones

1) iPhone 13 Pro Max Specifications Size: 6.7 inches Display size: 6.7-inches Resolution: 2560 x 1540 Processor: M6 RAM: 8GB Storage: 64GB Rear camera: 12MP Front Camera: 12MP Battery Life: Up to 16 hours Today's Deals View at Walmart (opens in new tab) View at Target (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy + Longest battery life on any phone today + Great cameras + Superfast charging Reasons to avoid - Poor performance compared to other iPhones - Limited storage capacity when upgrading to iOS 14 or later

The 2022 iPhone 13 Pro Max has the longest battery life of any phone, offering up to 16 hours of sustained screen time on its latest generation. This model also features Cinematic Mode and Portrait mode photography. It comes with several other impressive upgrades, including MagSafe wireless charging, faster processors, improved software performance, better displays and more. Although both sides of the iPhone 13 Pro Max are identical to their predecessors, these improvements mean that users won't feel much difference between the devices. However, this year's update introduces the ability to shoot video in Cinema Mode, something often missing from older iPhones, along with added support for Dolby Vision and HDR content.

The iPhone 13 Pro Max has a fairly standard design and a price tag (starting at $1,000). While it does come lacking certain extras like larger batteries, larger screens, bigger speakers and longer processor cores, if you can live without those functions, it's not worth the extra money. For anyone looking for a full blown flagship powerhouse, though, this could be just what you need. The main downside to owning this iPhone 13 Pro Max is that, while it boasts a long-lasting battery, it lacks high resolution cameras like the iPhone XS Max. That said, if you don't mind sacrificing some of that extra megapixels, you can still take great photos, with low light and proper exposure modes.

Read our full review: The iPhone 13 Pro Max

2) iPhone 12 Mini Specifications Screen size: 6.1 inches Dimensions: 143 x 67.2 x 7.7 mm Weight: 249g/8.3 oz Rear Cameras: 12MP Front Lens: 12MP Today's Deals Check Amazon (opens in new tab) Read our full review: What should you pay attention to before buying an iPhone 12 Mini?

The iPhone 12 mini is a small smartphone that offers most of the functionality found inside the regular iPhone 12, but it doesn't offer much in terms of style. Instead, it features a minimalistic body with thin frame edges. Like the iPhone 12, the iPhone 12 mini offers dual rear cameras instead of triple cameras, though the number and quality are slightly reduced. Unlike its predecessor, however, the iPhone 12 mini is equipped with a relatively compact 1.8GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon chipset powering the entire operation within. All told, the iPhone 12 mini costs less than half the price of the iPhone 12 and still delivers almost the same level of power as its predecessor. One other notable aspect of the iPhone 12 mini is that it supports fast charging. Unfortunately, due to its smaller size, most of its accessories cannot support this feature. The display on the iPhone 12 mini is another highlight of this model for fans of LCDs. Its vibrant True Tone gives it an incredibly colorful appearance, making it easy to recognize compared to LCD panels on comparable models.

At first glance, the iPhone 12 mini feels a little cramped compared to its big brother. The 6.1-inch OLED display on the iPhone 12 mini makes viewing pictures a bit choppy during playback, regardless of its sharpness settings. And for comparison, the iPhone XS Max comes equipped with an actual 120Hz refresh rate, whereas the iPhone 12 Mini operates on 60Hz. Either way, there’s nothing really wrong with having a smaller screen on your favorite smartphone. With no internal memory, the iPhone 12 mini only allows users to add additional data via iOS. Connectivity-wise, the iPhone 12 mini is similarly mediocre. Only Bluetooth and Wi-Fi remain available, meaning your choice of headphone connection isn't limited to either wired, USB-C, proprietary jack or Lightning cable. Finally, the front camera only works with Face ID facial recognition technology, a face unlock feature that lets you authenticate using a single photo stored on the iPhone 12 mini.

At 9.7 inches tall and weighing 249 grams, the iPhone 12 mini could make for a pretty hefty user if you wanted to add a pair of cases to keep your hands free during normal use. Despite those limitations, some reviewers praise the compact form factor, praising the lack of padding around the sides, as well as the overall slim profile of the handset. Overall, the iPhone 12 mini offers virtually the exact experience of a regular iPhone. When it comes down to it, the bottom line is that there are so many things to love about the iPhone 12 mini. First of all, it looks super cool and is perfectly sized for portability. Secondly, thanks to updated hardware and the increased processing power, it offers higher quality graphics and smoother gameplay, making gaming more enjoyable. While many consider the iPhone 12 mini an overly premium product compared to the regular iPhone 12, at least half of the problems with the old model don't exist here. We strongly suggest that you pick this smartphone over other alternatives if you want the best of the best in terms of performance, camera quality, and battery life.

Read our full review: Everything to know about the new iPhone 12 mini

3) iPhone 11 Features Dual rear cameras and a flat glass back, similar to the original version Today's Deals Visit Site (opens in new tab) More deals VISIT SITE (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy + Affordable + Excellent cameras + Fast charging Reasons to avoid - Not as large as the iPhone SE

After nearly four years of being out of favor, Apple finally released the iPhone 11 last October. As usual, the company delivered a brand new version. So far, this is the smallest mobile phone in the lineup, but there are certainly reasons to look forward to the iPhone 11. Its biggest advantage remains constant: speed. Thanks to the new A15 Bionic chip, this particular iteration of the iPhone packs enough processing horsepower into the portable form factor to run demanding applications at lightning speed. Even the cheapest iPhone 11 comes with 512 GB of onboard storage, making sure you never run out of space. This means that, with the release of iOS 14 earlier this year, you'll have access to millions of apps to jumpstart your iPhone development skills. These include games and music, so if you've been planning a move into mobile gaming, or simply like exploring its vast array of library, now is the time. At the heart of the iPhone 11's appeal are two primary reasons why people love the classic iPhone. They're: better cameras, and the fact that they can quickly charge. The previous versions of the iPhone were slower than the modern ones, although they still offered decent images. Now, with the introduction of Cinematic Mode, Cinematic photos and videos, plus the ever larger sensor, the iPhone 11 manages to capture crystal clear details with extreme accuracy. It's the perfect solution to taking detailed snapshots in dark environments. Speaking of shots taken at night, the iPhone 11 features Night Sight technology that enhances the contrast, reducing noise and enhancing detail, even at lower ISO levels. On top of being able to take multiple photographs at once, the iPhone 11's dual-camera system, particularly in portrait mode, makes it possible to combine three shots into one, giving users maximum control over their surroundings.

Even with the newest iPhone 11 series, it is possible to create unique portraits by mirroring faces and backgrounds onto the background to produce striking results. Another nice touch with the iPhone 11 is the inclusion of Portrait Photography, an optional accessory that takes portraits to the next level by digitally creating an illusion of depth to enhance them. Similarly, macro photography is easier than ever on the iPhone 11 thanks to the larger sensors built into the lens. Since it can take greater precision shots than the other generations of iPhone, this tech enables users to get closer to subjects