What Are Budget Phones?

Budget phones can range from $100.00 to free. Most phones in this price range offer standard features like text messaging, speakerphone, a VGA camera and caller ID. Beware that using some of the features, like sending text and picture messages can dramatically increase your monthly bill if you don’t have the correct plan.

More about budget phones |  Top picks  

What Are Multimedia Phones?

Some multimedia phones let you stream your favorite Internet radio stations or watch cable stations on-demand. Others let you simply store music, video and pictures on the phone’s internal memory. These phones are more like a bag of trail mix; they combine lots of media features in one package.

More about multimedia phones |   Top picks  

What Are Smart Phones?

These devices come in all sizes. Some have QWERTY keyboards that slide or flip, others use a touch screen keyboard. Many manufactures are starting to build in Wi-Fi, making connecting to the Web much simpler and faster. But unlike phones just designed for messaging or multimedia, a smart phone aims to be an assistant by managing your schedule, organizing your files, and keeping you in touch and informed at all times.