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Stellar smartphones for new grads

Show the recent grad in your life you care with the gift of one of these hot new smartphones. Not only will they be extremely appreciative, they'll have have the most modern tools to hopefully stay in touch more often.

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Brian Bennett
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HTC One

Nothing says a job well done quite like a beautiful new smartphone, and the new HTC One is the most stunning we've ever seen. Crafted from an all-aluminum chassis and sporting a huge HD screen, the HTC One is a sight to see. It also runs top-notch hardware and software to match its lovely exterior including a blazing quad-core processor, Android Jelly Bean, and a camera packed with advanced features.

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2 of 6 Josh Miller/CNET

HTC First

If the recent grad you're shopping for can't get enough of Facebook, the HTC First is the phone you seek. The device is the first smartphone featuring the new Facebook Home software experience that places all things Facebook front and center.

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3 of 6 Sarah Tew/CNET

Apple iPhone 5

The latest in the line of handsets that changed the face of smartphones forever, the Apple iPhone 5 will certainly be high on the wish list of fresh graduates the world over -- at least until the launch of the iPhone 6 perhaps.

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4 of 6 Josh Long/CNET

LG Nexus 4

Give your proud student the gift of modern Android. LG's Nexus 4 features a big, bright screen, quad-core processing, plus all the mobile power the freshest version of Jelly Bean brings to the table.

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5 of 6 CBS Interactive

Samsung Galaxy Note 2

The first smartphone to really make phone and tablet hybrids successful, Samsung's Galaxy Note 2 pushes both the size and capability envelope. With both a stylus and a large 5.5-inch screen, the Note 2 easily multi-tasks as a tool for work and play. It'll be a welcome addition to a recent grads arsenal of devices.

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6 of 6 Josh Miller/CNET

Nokia Lumia 920

Affordable yet extremely capable, the Nokia Lumia 920 is a very smart buy for grads looking to save cash on their next smartphone purchase. Running Windows Phone 8, the handset has access to many popular apps plus features one of the best cameras you'll find on a mobile device.

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