Mobile phone handsets

Compare mobile phone handsets

There's a lot to think about when choosing a mobile phone handset. Modern mobile phones are packed with advanced features such as internet access, built-in cameras and music players. But if you just want one for texting and calling, you're more likely to be interested in the essentials such as sound quality and reception.

Which? has tested these, plus other basics including ease of use and battery life – so compare mobile phones to pick a handset that's rated highly for the things that matter to you.

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How to get a free mobile phone

With a traditional mobile phone contract, you pay a monthly fee and get a subsidised or free mobile phone. Some of the newest mobile phone handsets are available only on a pay-monthly contract, and you'll often get a number of call minutes and texts thrown in as part of the deal.

If you don't want to get tied in to a contract, a pay-as-you-go deal could be better for you. There's no monthly fee, and you can buy a PAYG handset for as little as £10. 

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Surfing the internet on your mobile phone

If you want to surf the internet or send email from your mobile phone, look for a 3G handset. 3G is faster than GPRS – you'll be able to download a typical audio file in 90 seconds.

Another option is to connect to the internet using Wi-Fi. At the moment only a few mobile phone handsets offer this feature, but it's worth looking out for as it usually provides faster and cheaper internet access. You can search for Wi-Fi capable phones with the Which? product finder – choose 'internet phones' and then select 'yes' for Wi-Fi.

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• 3G phones
• Surfing the internet on your mobile phone

Music and camera phones

It's now possible to buy 8Mp camera phones with advanced features such as face detection, but that won't guarantee good picture quality. The key to a good camera phone is the lens and sensor, and we test each camera in a variety of light conditions to find out which ones perform best.

If you're looking for a mobile phone that plays music, sound quality is key. We test each handset to see how well it copes with different types of music, and also assess how easy the music player is to use. Check out the Which? ratings to find the best-performing music and camera phones.

• Taking pictures with your mobile phone
• Listening to music on your mobile phone
• Compare camera phones or music phones

Watch out for mobile phone handsets with poor battery life

The last thing you need is to be cut off mid-conversation by your phone's battery running out. Battery life varies a lot between mobile phone handsets, and it's not something you can test in the shop. Some mobiles take much longer to charge than others, while others give you the 'low battery' warning too early or too late. 

The manufacturers' battery life claims assume the phone will be used under ideal conditions, so should be taken with a pinch of salt. Which? rates each phone's battery life, so choose a Which? Best Buy mobile phone handset for a battery that won't let you down.

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