Operating system and version used at the time of testing.

Screen size in inches (measured diagonally).

Internal storage is the storage on the phone itself which will be used to contain both the Operating System (OS), apps, documents and media such as photos, videos etc.

RAM (random access memory) is the main memory used by the CPU and is measured in gigabytes (GB). Generally speaking, more RAM equals improved performance.

We recommend smartphones with a CHOICE Expert Rating of 75% or more.

This overall score is made up of: Camera quality (photo and video) (25%), battery life (15%), display (15%), durability (10%), sound quality (10%), performance (10%), features (5%), ease of use (5%), functions (3%) and security (2%).

A complete discharge of the battery from 100% charge based on a typical user day. This includes calls, navigation, camera use, web browsing and periods where the phone is in on but not in use. Each device is tested with two brightness settings, 300 nits and maximum. Display is set to dim after one minute of inactivity. Charge time is also recorded and assessed at 15 minutes and to total charge.

We assess the size of the display as well as quality of the image with regard to sharpness and colour clarity.

Assesses resistance to scratches, shock (drop test) and rain.

Sound score is based on the quality of sound from the integrated speakers and listening through high quality headphones.

A benchmark test of processor performance.

A performance assessment of additional features that don't fit into other test categories, including voice assistant, IP certification (water/dust resistance) gyroscope, compass and more. This test also involves measuring signal strength and performance of a 4G network and the GPS accuracy.

General ease of use assessment covering day-to-day use such as navigation, making/receiving calls (acoustic test of speech quality), sending texts, using apps, web browsing and so on. The acoustic test is conducted using a dummy head with an artificial ear for consistency across devices.

A substantial assessment of built-in data protection tools and whether the user is able to easily secure, access and delete personal information from the device, such as ease of wiping the drive during a factory reset. Data protection includes brute force, vulnerability and biometric assessments.

General functions test including touch screen feel and responsiveness (e.g. copy/paste) and unlock methods.

This is the battery life you can expect from your mobile after charging for 15 minutes using the supplied charger. A test lab charger if used if one is not supplied with the device.

This is the internal memory of your phone, less the memory taken up with storing the operating system (OS) and other apps the phone comes shipped with.

Recommended retail price at time of purchase.

5G is the fastest available mobile data network.

4G or LTE (long term evolution) is a wireless standard to get faster online performance from your mobile phone and replacing the 3G network as the most widespread option and may be available in areas that don't have 5G coverage.

The maximum resolution of the camera lens, or lenses, on the back of the phone, in megapixels. These will vary depending on the type of lens (e.g. wide and telephoto).

The maximum resolution of the camera lens, aka selfie camera, on the front of the phone, in megapixels.

Ingress protection rating to identify levels of liquid and dust protection. The first digit applies to particulate protection (dirt, dust etc.) and the second refers to moisture protection. Higher numbers equal a greater degree of protection - e.g. IP67 protects against dust and submersion in up to one metre of water for up to 30 minutes.

Does the phone have two slots for dual physical SIM cards. This can be handy when traveling if you prefer to use a local SIM rather than roaming. Dual SIM does not refer to models with eSIM support, as this only allows for one physical SIM card and one digital SIM.

The higher the Bluetooth version the more efficient it is for power saving and security

'Tested model' means you ought to be able to find this in retailers. Discontinued models may still be available on the aftermarket.

Can the phone open and close along a vertical or horizontal orientation.

This may require first party devices - e.g. a Google Pixel phone and google charger - to work.

Colloquially known as a 'zoom lens', this allows you to zoom in on far away subjects without impacting image quality.

Specialised lense designed for highly detailed, close-up photography.

Takes a series of photos so you can adjust the focal point or depth of field in the device's photo editing app, after the fact.

Models without autofocus require you to tap the screen to focus on a specific point while taking a selfie.

Biometric tool to unlock the device by scanning your finger or thumb print.

High Dynamic Range (HDR) screens deliver greater contrast between dark and bright colours, giving you greater detail in shade areas and more realistic colours in difficult video situations such as overly dark or overly light scenes. Content needs to be HDR enable as well for the benefits to take effect.

A phone with a 3.5mm jack will let you use a standard set of headphones to listen to music. USB-C and Lightning connections require a convertor (often included in the box) or Bluetooth headphones.

A memory card is a good expandable memory option to store photos, video and music.

Handy for things like tap'n'pay, and faster connections to wireless speakers.

The fastest version of Wi-Fi currently available. Devices that don't support Wi-Fi 7 still have older versions of Wi-Fi and can connect to the internet.