RANKED: The best smartphones in the world

Amazon's first smartphone, the Fire phone, generated a lot of hype before it launched last summer. But just about every critic bashed it. It's an interesting device thanks to its screen's 3D 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: Starts at $449 unlocked.

The Nokia Lumia 830 is one of the newest phones from Microsoft. It runs the Windows Phone 8 operating system and has a sharp 5-inch screen.

Price: About $450 on AT&T.

The HTC One M8 For Windows is the best phone you can buy running the Windows Phone operating system. It has a gorgeous metal body and the new version of Windows Phone, 8.1, which includes the excellent digital assistant Cortana.

Click here for the HTC One M8 for Windows review >>

Price: Around $600.

The Note Edge is similar to the Galaxy Note 4, but it has a secondary screen on the side that changes depending on what app you're using. The "edge" screen can also display information like news updates and other notifications when the rest of the screen is switched off.

Click here for the Galaxy Note Edge review >>

Price: About $945.

Apple's iPhone 5S may be over a year old, but it's still a really good phone, especially if you don't want a bigger screen. If you want a great iPhone experience at a discount, get the iPhone 5S. However, if you want the best experience, you're better off spending the extra $100 on an iPhone 6.

Click here for the iPhone 5S review>>

Price: Starts at $549.

LG's current 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: Around $599.

Sony's flagship Z3 phone is one of the best Android phones to come out this year. It has a sharp 5.2-inch screen, incredible camera, and is resistant to water.

Click here for the Sony Xperia Z3 review >>

Price: About $630.

The Galaxy S5 may be close to a year old, but it's still one of the best Android phones you can buy. It has an incredible screen, one of the best ever put on a smartphone.

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

Fair warning: Samsung's next Galaxy phone is coming in about a month. If you like Samsung phones and can wait, you probably should.

Click here for the Galaxy S5 review>>

Price: Around $610.

Google's newest flagship phone is the Nexus 6, a massive device with a 6-inch screen. It's made by Motorola and is the first phone to run Lollipop, the new version of Android with a brand new design.

Click here for the Nexus 6 review >>

Price: Starts at $649.

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 flagship phone, the One. The OnePlus One only costs $300 unlocked, which is much cheaper than other premium phones like the iPhone 6 and Samsung Galaxy S5, which can cost $650 or more.

The downside? Supplies are extremely limited.

Click here for the OnePlus One Review >>

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

Motorola's new Moto X, which launched in September, is a strong contender for best Android phone. Similar to Google's Nexus 6, the Moto X runs a nearly clean version of Android, meaning you get software updates a lot faster. The phone also looks really nice and has a 5.2-inch display.

Click here for the Moto X review >>

Price: Around $500.

The HTC One M8 is nearly a year old, but it's still a great device. HTC is one of the only Android manufacturers that can make phones a good looking as the iPhone.

Warning: HTC's next One phone is coming in about a month. Unless you need to upgrade now, you should wait.

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

Price: Around $540.

Samsung's new Galaxy Note 4 is the best phone the company has ever made.

It has an incredibly crisp 5.7-inch screen, the best display ever used on a smartphone. It also has a metal frame around the edges, which makes the phone feel a lot sturdier than previous versions. If you want a phablet-sized phone, the Galaxy Note 4 is one of the top devices you should consider.

Click here for the Galaxy Note 4 review >>

Price: About $750.

If you want a phablet, the iPhone 6 Plus is the best phone you can buy. Unlike other phablets that can be thick, chunky, and plasticky, the iPhone 6 Plus is thin, gorgeous, and made of metal. It doesn't feel like you're lugging around a giant phone.

Click here for the iPhone 6 Plus review >>

Price: Starts at $749.

The iPhone 6 is the best smartphone. Unless you really like using Android or Windows Phones, the iPhone 6 should be your first choice.

Why? It's the perfect mix of design, hardware specs, and app selection. Apple also finally caught up to its competitors by adding a larger screen to the iPhone 6. It's 4.7 inches, up from the 4-inch screen on the iPhone 5S.

Click here for the iPhone 6 review >>

Price: Starts at $649.

Samsung's next flagship phone, the Galaxy S6, is coming in early March. Sources tell Business Insider that the phone will be made out of metal. There will also be a version of the Galaxy S6 with a curved screen, similar to the Galaxy Note Edge.

HTC plans to announce its newest One phone on March 1. According to early reports and leaks, the next One will look a lot like the current version. But it'll have a much better camera and internal specs.

Click here to see the most exciting features coming to the Apple Watch >>