X
CNET logo Why You Can Trust CNET

Our expert, award-winning staff selects the products we cover and rigorously researches and tests our top picks. If you buy through our links, we may get a commission. Reviews ethics statement

Top smartphones cool enough for school

Start the school year fresh with a new smartphone that'll make you look good on campus and off. Here are some good places to start for any budget.

jessica-dolcourt-6462
Lynn_La2.jpg
jessica-dolcourt-6462
Jessica Dolcourt
Lynn_La2.jpg
Lynn La
PileOfPhones-9190.jpg
1 of 10 Josh Miller/CNET

New smartphones for a new school year

Choosing the best smartphone for your needs is a little like trying to decide your favorite song of all time: sometimes it's a struggle, and other times it just clicks. This roundup offers top picks, no matter what your budget. If this little gang isn't exactly what you're looking for, check out this more extensive guide walking you through which smartphone to buy based on your carrier and favorite components.

Motorola_X_35823022_05.jpg
2 of 10 Sarah Tew/CNET

Motorola Moto X

Just because the Motorola Moto X isn't the most powerful smartphone on the market, that doesn't mean it isn't an excellent handset. Hitting stores later this August, the $199 Moto X is stylish, has a long battery life, and a fast camera. In addition, it comes with an array of customizable designs, so you can stand out from the crowd.

Nokia_Lumia_1020_35822762-7833.jpg
3 of 10 Josh Miller/CNET

Nokia Lumia 1020

Whether you're a budding photographer or you just want to capture great shots of your friends, the Lumia 1020 has you covered. Along with a 4.5-inch screen and a Snapdragon processor, it boasts a 41-megapixel rear-facing camera, and tons of photo-editing options that you can use to polish up your high-resolution pictures.

HTC_One_Sprint_35616143_08.jpg
4 of 10 Sarah Tew/CNET

HTC One

A badass design and stunning display are only two reasons to pick the HTC One for school. Retailing for $200 on-contract, the gorgeous top-notch Android smartphone also comes packed with two amazing speakers that pump your tunes in the dorm room or quad, and 32GB of storage space for all your photos and videos.

35627724-Samsung-Galaxy-S4-31.jpg
5 of 10 Josh Miller/CNET

Samsung Galaxy S4

For the fully-loaded Android experience with a terrific camera and gobs of photo features, the Samsung Galaxy S4 truly has it all. No, its chassis isn't as slick as the HTC One's, and for the same $200 on-contract price, you get just 16GB of storage rather than 32GB. Still, this quad-core machine goes neck and neck with the HTC One.

archimedes_35438535_37.jpg
6 of 10 Sarah Tew/CNET

iPhone 5

Students with Macs, the iPhone 5 is a no-brainer. Yes, it's definitely possible to own a Mac and have a complete smartphone experience on a non-iOS device, but the integrated ecosystem is much simpler to navigate. Beyond that, everything from your music and video library to tools like calendars and notes sync in a snap. However, because it's rumored that Apple will unveil the next iPhone on September 10, we suggest you see what the company has in store if you're able to wait.

35756625-0714.jpg
7 of 10 Josh Miller/CNET

LG Optimus G Pro

Although LG's newest flagship handset, the G2, won't be available in time before school starts, you can still nab its predecessor, the LG Optimus G Pro. Only $99 right now at AT&T, it has an iron-pumping processor, a massive 5.5-inch display, and a 13-megapixel camera. As with the HTC One and Samsung Galaxy S4, this Android Jelly Bean big boy is equipped with an IR blaster that turns your phone into a TV remote -- a lifesaver for when the real thing slips behind the couch.

35426722-13.jpg
8 of 10 Josh Miller/CNET

Samsung Galaxy Note 2

For the phablet category, the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 is the only real contender that marries Android power with a built-in stylus. Note-taking with the S Pen means you can leave the laptop back in your locker or dorm room, and the built-in 8-megapixel camera takes fine videos and snaps. Those who can should wait until Samsung announces a successor in the fall -- if you don't opt for that Note 3 model, at least prices on the Note 2 will drop.

Nokia_Lumia_521_35660271-0085.jpg
9 of 10 Josh Miller/CNET

Nokia Lumia 521

I'll give you 144 reasons to consider T-Mobile's Nokia Lumia 521 and yes, it's the Windows Phone 8 device's all-in, no-contract cost. Specs are purposely humble on this compact starter phone, to match the handset's envelope-pushing price. Still, the take-home value is high, even if data speeds do top out at HSPA+.

35326388-19.jpg
10 of 10 Josh Miller/CNET

Samsung Galaxy S3

It may be last year's model, but Samsung's Galaxy S3 still has a lot of life in it yet. And at half off what it cost even a few months ago ($99 on-contract, down from $199), the GS3 still packs in powerful hardware, like a speedy dual-core processor, an 8-megapixel camera, and a large, lovely screen.

More Galleries

2024 Toyota Grand Highlander: Super Size Me
2024 Toyota Grand Highlander

2024 Toyota Grand Highlander: Super Size Me

28 Photos
Yamaha motorcycle and instrument designers trade jobs (pictures)
yamaha01.jpg

Yamaha motorcycle and instrument designers trade jobs (pictures)

16 Photos
CNET's 'Day of the Dead Devices' altar (pictures)
dia-de-los-muertos-3318-001.jpg

CNET's 'Day of the Dead Devices' altar (pictures)

9 Photos
2007 Los Angeles Auto Show: concept cars
conceptss01_440.jpg

2007 Los Angeles Auto Show: concept cars

14 Photos
Best sound bars under $300
polk-magnifi-mini-15.jpg

Best sound bars under $300

18 Photos
2018 Ford F-150 Power Stroke reports for diesel duty
2018 Ford F-150 diesel

2018 Ford F-150 Power Stroke reports for diesel duty

22 Photos
Music-friendly cell phone accessories

Music-friendly cell phone accessories

11 Photos