RANKED: The Best Smartphones In The World

Amazon's first smartphone, the Fire phone, generated a lot of hype before it launched in July. But just about every critic bashed it. It's an interesting device thanks to its screens 3-D effects, but it doesn't have the same vibrant app ecosystem as the iPhone or Android phones.

Click here for the Amazon Fire phone review >>

Price: $199.99 on AT&T

If you need a workable phone that costs next to nothing, the Moto E from Motorola is a great choice.

This trimmed down Android smartphone doesn't have a super sharp screen or connect to 4G networks, but it does come dirt-cheap. You can buy it without a contract for just $129.

Click here for the Moto E review >>

Price: $129 from Motorola.

LG released the first-ever curved-screen phone, the G Flex, in the U.S. this year. The G Flex has a large, 6-inch curved screen and a self-healing backing that can repair minor scratches.

Unfortunately, LG had to make a few compromises to get that curved screen on the device. The resolution is a lot lower than it is on Apple and Samsung phones, so images, text, and video look grainy in comparison. LG's user interface for Android is also unattractive and buggy.

Click here for the LG G Flex review>>

Price: $299.99 on AT&T, $249.99 on Sprint, $0 down plus $22 per month for 24 months on T-Mobile.

The HTC One Max is the company's first phablet. It has a giant 5.9-inch screen and a fingerprint sensor that can unlock the phone and launch apps.

It's an attractive device made out of metal, but all that metal also makes the phone extremely thick and heavy compared to most devices that size. It's the prettiest phablet you can buy, but not the best.

Click here for the HTC One Max review>>

Price: $249.99 on Sprint.

The iPhone 5C, which launched at the same time as the iPhone 5S, is Apple's slightly cheaper model of the iPhone. It has almost all the same specs and features as the iPhone 5 that launched in 2012, but wrapped in a variety of colorful plastic cases. You can get it in blue, pink, green, yellow or white.

Click here for the iPhone 5C review>>

Price: Starts at $99 on AT&T, Verizon and Sprint. $0 down plus $22.91 per month for 24 months on T-Mobile.

HTC's flagship phone from last year, the One, still holds up very well today. The One is one of the most beautiful smartphones ever made. It also has a nice camera and large, 4.7-inch screen. Now that the new One flagship phone is out, you can get the original at a nice discount on some carriers.

Click here for the HTC One review>>

Price: $299.99 (64 GB only) on AT&T, $99.99 on Verizon, $0 on Sprint.

If you're on Verizon and want a Windows phone, the Nokia Lumia Icon is pretty much your only option. It's not the most attractive device, but it is well-constructed and has an amazing camera.

Click here for the Nokia Lumia Icon review>>

Price: $0 on Verizon.

Most consider the Nokia Lumia 1020 to be the best Windows phone you can buy. It has one of the best cameras you can get in a smartphone, which is nice if you don't mind the giant bulge it adds to the back.

Other than that, it's mostly the same Windows Phone experience you get on any other device.

Price: $0 on AT&T.

The Lumia 1520 is the first Windows Phone phablet ever made. It has a huge 6-inch screen, which gives you extra room for more apps and Live Tiles on your home screen.

Click here for the Nokia Lumia 1520 review>>

Price: $199.99 on AT&T

Samsung popularized the "phablet" category with the Galaxy Note more than two years ago. Now the phone is in its third generation with the Galaxy Note 3.

The Galaxy Note 3 has the biggest screen yet, 5.7 inches, yet its body is actually thinner and lighter than the last model. It also comes with a special stylus called the S Pen for drawing or taking notes.

Fair warning: Samsung is expected to release its new Galaxy Note in September, so you may want to wait if you can.

Click here for the Galaxy Note 3 review>>

Price: $199.99 on AT&T, $299.99 on Verizon, $0 down plus $25.74 per month for 24 months on T-Mobile, $249.99 on Sprint.

LG's newest flagship, the G3, has one of the sharpest displays ever put on a smartphone. It's also massive thanks to its 5.5-inch display. That makes the G3 more like a phablet than a standard smartphone.

It's a good Android phone, but LG put the power and volume keys on the back of the device, which is pretty awkward.

Click here for the LG G3 review >>

Price: $199.99 on AT&T, $199.99 on Verizon, $0 down plus $24.95 per month for 24 months on T-Mobile, $199.99 on Sprint.

The Moto X is one of the best Android phones. Motorola added some new features to Android, like the ability to check notifications easily from the home screen and launch the camera app by twisting the phone. But it's still mostly the "clean" version Android from Google.

Click here for the Moto X review>>

Price: $0 on AT&T, $50 on Verizon, $49.99 on Sprint.

Google's current flagship phone is the Nexus 5, which was made in partnership with LG.

Like all of Google's Nexus devices, the Nexus 5 runs a pure version of Android, meaning you won't find any modifications to the software. It also gets software updates much faster than other Android phones. But perhaps the best part is the value. You can get the Nexus 5 unlocked for about half the price as other top-tier smartphones.

The only downside: the camera isn't that great.

Click here for the Nexus 5 review>>

Price: $349 unlocked from Google. Works on AT&T, T-Mobile, and several other international carriers.

Samsung's latest flagship phone, the Galaxy S5, is a nice improvement over last year's phone. Instead of weighing the device down with a bunch of unnecessary features, Samsung focused on improving the stuff people care about the most. The Galaxy S5 has the best screen (5.1 inches) ever made for a smartphone. The camera is really good, too.

But if you don't like phones made out of plastic, you should probably look for something else.

Click here for the Galaxy S5 review>>

Price: $199.99 on AT&T, $199.99 on Verizon, $99.99 on Sprint, $0 down plus $25.40 per month for 24 months on T-Mobile.

What if you could get a smartphone with a huge 5.5-inch screen, great software, and zippy internal specs that rival the best smartphones?

That's what Chinese startup OnePlus did with its new flagship phone, the One. The OnePlus One only costs $300 unlocked, which is much cheaper than other premium phones like the iPhone 5S and Samsung Galaxy S5, which can cost $650 or more.

The downside? Supplies are extremely limited and you need an invitation from a current OnePlus One owner to buy the phone.

Click here for the OnePlus One Review >>

Price: $300 unlocked. Works on T-Mobile or AT&T.

HTC's latest flagship phone, the HTC One (M8), is the best Android phone you can buy.

Like the original, the new HTC One, which is also called the M8, has a gorgeous design and high-quality metal construction. It also has an extra rear camera that acts as a depth sensor so you can edit photos later and change the focus.

Click here for the HTC One (M8) review>>

Price: $199.99 on AT&T, $199.99 on Sprint, $199.99 on Verizon, $0 down plus $26.50 per month for 24 months on T-Mobile.

HTC partnered with Google to create a version of the HTC One (M8) that runs a clean version of Android. That means you don't get any of the extras that come with the regular version you buy through carriers. You also get software updates directly from Google shortly after they're ready.

If you want a great phone with the best possible Android experience, this is the device to buy.

Price: $699 unlocked from Google. Works on AT&T, T-Mobile, and several other international carriers.

For most people, the iPhone 5S is the best smartphone available.

It strikes the perfect balance of great design, useful features, and app and content selection. The iPhone 5S looks nearly identical to last year's iPhone 5, but sports a better camera and a fingerprint sensor for unlocking the phone without a passcode.

Click here for the iPhone 5S review>>

Price: Starts at $199 on AT&T, Verizon and Sprint. $0 down plus $27 per month for 24 months on T-Mobile.

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