The Best Smartphones You Can Buy Right Now - WSJ

Wall Street Journal Online ^ | November 25, 2014 | Joanna Stern

[House Atreides]

Right now is the single best time of the year to buy a smartphone.

It may sound like something you’d read in a weekly circular, but it’s true: All the smartphone makers have released their best wares in preparation for the big holiday buying season. Some can be found at their lowest prices, especially this Friday and Monday.

And for anyone worrying about something better coming along right away, don’t. The next major phone launch isn’t until the spring.

Now there’s just this teeny-tiny problem of picking one of the seemingly identical black big-screened slabs. Choose wrong and you’ll be stuck with a dud of a phone for the next two years. Happy holidays!

[House Atreides]

Something to look at if you're shopping for a Smartphone for yourself or as a gift.

[fatnotlazy]

Sorry Ms. Stern, but I'll keep my Samsung Galaxy 4.

[b4its2late]

Thanks!

[steve86]

I’ll keep my 7.99/month Tracfone Android phone.

[Ted Grant]

I can personally recommend the OnePlus One. Great, inexpensive android phone.

[RangerM]

Picked up a Droid Turbo 64 gb a month ago. Battery life is better than previous Droid Razr Maxx.

Verizon (if you’re on them) has a Black Friday deal on them, iirc.

[Dr. Sivana]

7 year old Motorola flip phone with fat battery pack with prepaid Verizon, supplemented with an iPod Touch. No contracts, no big outlays.

[kempster]

Just got my Galaxy Note 4 and I love it. Best phone I have ever had.

[SES1066]

I finally gave up on Tracfone and joined the iPhone environment. Yes I was already in iMac and iPod Touch so I knew what I was getting but the 6 is a jewel. Big thing is that I did budget for it and since I will be using minimal data roaming, it looks practical to me.

[sean327]

I love my Droid Mini. It’s been a great phone so far. My only complaint is that it’s a battery eating monster.

[KoRn]

I LOVE my Samsung Galaxy phone, not only is it awesome, but it seamlessly integrates on my home network with my TV and appliances. I love being able to watch “The Walking Dead” on my phone while stepping out for a smoke. Keeps my from annoying the rest of the family by ‘rewinding’ it when I get back, and it came back on before I got back. lol

[immadashell]

Do I have to be black and poor to get a free SoetoroPhone?

[redangus]

Interesting she doesn’t even review the Windows phone because they don’t have anything she considers a necessity that can’t be found on her iPhone. Not a very unbiased review. Comes across as an apple phile with preconceived notions going in. I know the i6 is the greatest, it’s an apple product for gawd sakes, but if I had to lower my standards what would I buy?

[grimalkin]

I love my iPhone 6. Very useful for business and personal things.

[Cyman]

Just got my Galaxy Note 4 and I love it. Best phone I have ever had

Double dittos!

[RedMDer]

FReepers! Let's go!
Every donation counts!



We're going to need a big push to
wrap this up. Let's git 'er done. 

[Bratch]

Better than Galaxy Note 3?

[ALASKA]

I’d add the Nokia 1020.,,,,,,,, just for the camera. 41 mp!

[Paradox]

I DOWNGRADED to the cheapest Windows phone out there? Why? The price (thru Cricket), and my current Android phone kept needing a recharge all the time it seemed.

I know this will sound strange, but on a PHONE, I actually now prefer Windows Phone. Its just a nicer all around PHONE OS for my purposes. Plus it was like $300 cheaper than the android phone I had before. Battery life is far better with a smaller battery too.

If I want heavy duty portable usage, I take my 7” Android.

[NormsRevenge]

Wifey has an iPhone6 on order, I’m clinching my 3-YO Galaxy 4 tight, tho a new 5 Active model is possible, like to holdout til the Galaxy Note Edge, has a curved screen edge.. By the time it comes out, I should be done helping wifey with her new phone.