Shown off at MWC 2014 in February, the G Pro 2 is LG's expansive, ultrapowerful phablet. Students and new grads certainly should keep their eyes peeled for bargains; this is one device that’s hard to pass up. With a huge screen that's great for watching movies or reading textbooks, the affordable G Pro 2 should be on your short list. Factor in its quad-core CPU, feature-packed camera, and huge 5.9-inch screen, and the G Pro 2 becomes an even more attractive purchase.

Students who prefer deep support for Windows and Microsoft Office apps will find a friend in the Nokia Lumia Icon. Running Windows Phone 8, the handset enjoys tight integration with Microsoft's classic suite of software and productivity tools. The Icon also packs a sharp 20MP camera that performs well under low-light conditions.

Students and grads on the job hunt need to stay organized by jotting down notes and making lists, which is why Samsung's Galaxy Note 3 is an excellent option. A fast performer with a beautiful, large screen, the Note 3 is also the best phone/tablet/pen combo we've seen yet.

Outfitted with a remarkable level of advanced gear and high-tech gizmos, the Samsung Galaxy S5 will certainly entice grads who want to be prepared for any mobile situation. The phone's large 5.1-inch OLED screen is gorgeous and colorful and its Android KitKat software and Samsung UI is cutting-edge and refreshed. Also, the 16MP main camera is swift and packed with loads of extras.

For grads who love the beach and don't fear water, Sony's next-generation Xperia device is perfect. Able to be dunked in the surf, sand, and rain without dropping a beat, the Z2 is also a slight improvement on its predecessor, the Z1. This phone has a larger 5.2-inch screen and a slightly faster 2.3GHz Qualcomm processor. It's running the freshest version of Android, 4.4.2, and has a camera that shoots 4K video.

Grads straight out of school likely won’t have many coins to rub together, which is shame if they have their hearts set on a new iPhone. Why not take the frugal iOS route? The iPhone 5C is a great $99 phone that basically replicates the well-reviewed iPhone 5 in a more colorful case.

Sure, the new Galaxy S5 looks compelling but its predecessor, the Samsung Galaxy S4, still packs a mobile punch. The phone's big, bright OLED screen captivates almost as much as before and the camera is still one of the best you’ll find on a smartphone.

Last year's ground-breaking HTC One is still a handsome, stylish, and impressive hunk of mobile machine; scooping one up on the cheap for grads makes a ton of sense. To refresh, the HTC One flaunts a lovely metal design, a speedy quad-core processor, and a beautiful 4.7-inch, 1080p screen. It has also been updated to Android KitKat and has a feature-packed camera app.

Securing a smartphone running the best mobile software Microsoft can muster doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg. For $159, grads can nab the Lumia 635, which also comes with Windows Phone 8.1 and the Cortana virtual assistant to tackle voice commands and hands-free Bing searches.