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Green Gadgets
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Kogan
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Phonebot
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Phonebot
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eBay Australia
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While Apple didn't top any specific metric for mobile phones, it rated well across the board for design, battery life and camera quality. Perhaps a little more expensive than other phone brands, it didn't rate well for value for money. It still took the top spot as the best overall rated phone brand, as voted by Australians.
Phonebot
Up to 45% off refurbished tech at Phonebot
Save up to 45% on selected smartphones, tablets, laptops and wearable tech from Apple, Samsung, Google Pixel, Motorola and more at Phonebot. Limited time offer and while stocks last. T&Cs, exclusions apply.
Kogan
Up to 40% off + free shipping on all iPhone 15 models
Don't miss out on this limited-time offer at Kogan. T&Cs apply.
Temu
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Discounts applied at checkout. Valid for a limited time only at Temu. Exclusions, T&Cs apply.
Phonebot
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Otterbox
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Green Gadgets
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Amazon
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The Good Guys
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Kogan
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Phonebot
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Phonebot
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Phonebot
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Otterbox
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The Good Guys
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MyDeal
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Otterbox
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Lenovo
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OzMobiles
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These days, there are 2 main mobile operating systems to choose from when you compare mobile phones: Google's Android platform or Apple's iOS.
There are other options, although they are too small to be considered viable alternatives. US government trade bans has meant that Chinese manufacturer Huawei has had to develop its own operating system called HarmonyOS, instead of using Android for its phones. Meanwhile, smartphone platforms like Windows Phone and Symbian are considered obsolete. This isn't much of a surprise given they struggled to maintain marketshare since iOS and Android became the standard options.
This means that when you compare mobile phones, the choice between the 2 dominant platforms largely comes down to a matter of preference for hardware. iOS is exclusively on offer for iPhones, while Android is the platform running on the vast majority of non-Apple smartphones.
Choosing the right operating system is important, as it can affect the range of apps available to you. While many popular apps are available for both iOS and Android platforms, there are still plenty of examples of apps and games that are only available on one platform. If those apps are important to you, choose the operating system that offers the app you need.
Many of today's flagships cost well over $1,500. If you want to get a phone on a plan, you will likely have to make extra monthly payments as well.
The good news is that there are plenty of opportunities to pick up cheap phones from retail partners if you shop around. Mid-range phones are also a solid option, with performance similar to the flagship models of 12–24 months ago.
Buying a new smartphone is an investment, not just in terms of the physical product but also in how you use the device. With many phones purchased on 24-month contracts, making sure you're happy with your purchase over time is almost as important as the desire to get the shiniest new phone.
Whether you're picking up a top of the line phone or just a cheap prepaid device, there are a number of factors you should consider before you make your purchase:
The trend over the past few years has definitely tended towards the "bigger is better" mantra, with phone screens approaching 6 inches on the diagonal. Having a bigger screen makes reading text and watching videos easier, but drains the battery faster and can be difficult to control 1-handed.
Smartphone screen technology has come a long way in the past few years, with 4K capable screens now accessible. For the most part, those resolutions are wasted on a device smaller than 6 inches, but it's worth comparing the pixels per inch (PPI) specification to see just how many pixels the manufacturer was able to cram into an inch, with more pixels generally resulting in a crisper image on screen.
While manufacturers have managed to offer battery life improvements through both cramming more battery into larger phones and reducing battery consumption through smarter software, the tech behind batteries still remains largely the same as it was when Apple launched the first iPhone. For a full day's battery life, you should probably focus on phones with 3,000mAh or more.
Not all Australian carriers use the same network frequencies, so ensuring your phone works on the full spectrum of frequencies for your carrier is essential. It is fairly complicated, but you can compare the networks and their respective frequencies to get a better idea.
The smartphone camera has all but replaced the compact digital camera market, and the quality of phone photos gets better every year. It's not all about megapixels though, with sensor size and multiple lens technologies helping make smartphone pictures even better.
If your phone is going to house your entire life, including photos, videos and everything in between, make sure you have enough storage to keep it all. Lower storage devices are cheaper but look for an expandable memory microSD slot in Android phones so you can expand the capacity. Alternatively, look for a higher capacity device.
Not all phones are available on contract over 24 months. If you can't grab a phone on contract, be prepared to pay more for the phone up front. However, doing so will likely save you money in the long run.
For more information, check out our comprehensive guides to mobile plans.
| Xiaomi* | 8.33 | 4.43 | 4.71 | 4.57 | 4.43 | 4.71 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apple | 8.03 | 4.53 | 3.78 | 4.00 | 4.24 | 4.31 |
| Samsung | 7.84 | 4.33 | 4.04 | 4.06 | 4.25 | 4.18 |
| Huawei | 7.83 | 4.28 | 4.33 | 4.28 | 3.97 | 4.31 |
| Sony | 7.73 | 4.27 | 4.09 | 4.00 | 4.18 | 4.36 |
| Nokia | 7.65 | 4.14 | 4.24 | 3.95 | 4.11 | 4.19 |
| Oppo | 7.60 | 4.14 | 4.29 | 4.29 | 3.96 | 4.14 |
| HTC* | 7.54 | 4.50 | 3.75 | 3.25 | 3.75 | 3.75 |
| Motorola | 7.52 | 4.00 | 4.20 | 4.20 | 3.90 | 3.80 |
| 7.43 | 4.13 | 4.13 | 3.81 | 3.81 | 3.69 | |
| Optus | 6.79 | 3.75 | 3.83 | 3.83 | 3.50 | 4.17 |
| Telstra | 6.73 | 3.74 | 3.42 | 3.74 | 3.37 | 3.74 |
| Other | 6.62 | 3.56 | 4.07 | 3.74 | 3.63 | 3.59 |
| LG | 6.29 | 3.27 | 4.07 | 3.67 | 3.27 | 3.47 |
| Alcatel | 6.10 | 3.29 | 3.82 | 3.47 | 3.12 | 3.47 |
Your phone can do everything else, so why not use it to control your TV, too?
A broken smartphone screen doesn't automatically equal having to buy a new one, but it's worth knowing what to pay for screen repair.
If you’re after a phone on the Telstra network to use in Australia’s more remote territories, what you need is a Blue Tick certified device.
Making the switch from Apple iPhone to Android means greater pitfalls than real differences.
Not sure what resolution you need on your phone's camera? This guide explains the features you really need to check on your smartphone.
We teach you how to unlock a phone when your handset is locked to another service.
