{"menuItems":[{"label":"Compare mobile phones","anchorName":"#compare"},{"label":"What you should consider when you compare mobile phones","anchorName":"#learn"},{"label":"Android vs iOS","anchorName":"#android-vs-ios"},{"label":"Mobile phone prices","anchorName":"#mobile-phone-prices"},{"label":"How to compare mobile phones","anchorName":"#how-to-compare-mobile-phones"},{"label":"Mobile phone contracts","anchorName":"#mobile-phone-contracts"},{"label":"Best rated mobile phone brand award breakdown","anchorName":"#awards"}]}
Best Rated Mobile Phone Brand: Apple
While Apple didn't top any specific metric for mobile phones, it rated well across the board for design, battery life and camera quality. Perhaps a little more expensive than other phone brands, it didn't rate well for value for money. It still took the top spot as the best overall rated phone brand, as voted by Australians.
We update our data regularly, but information can change between updates. Confirm details with the provider you're interested in before making a decision.
Save when you purchase a participating Galaxy S23 Series and receive a FREE Samsung Galaxy Watch5 (LTE), 44mm, Graphite as a gift. Limited time offer. T&Cs, exclusions apply.
Take 20% off your second phone case at Otterbox. Discount will apply to the cheaper of the two. This promotion only applies to smartphone cases. T&Cs apply
These days, there are 2 main mobile operating systems to choose from when you compare mobile phones: Google's Android platform or Apple's iOS.
There are other options, although they are too small to be considered viable alternatives. US government trade bans has meant that Chinese manufacturer Huawei has had to develop its own operating system called HarmonyOS, instead of using Android for its phones. Meanwhile, smartphone platforms like Windows Phone and Symbian are considered obsolete. This isn't much of a surprise given they struggled to maintain marketshare since iOS and Android became the standard options.
This means that when you compare mobile phones, the choice between the 2 dominant platforms largely comes down to a matter of preference for hardware. iOS is exclusively on offer for iPhones, while Android is the platform running on the vast majority of non-Apple smartphones.
Choosing the right operating system is important, as it can affect the range of apps available to you. While many popular apps are available for both iOS and Android platforms, there are still plenty of examples of apps and games that are only available on one platform. If those apps are important to you, choose the operating system that offers the app you need.
Mobile phone prices
Many of today's flagships cost well over $1,500. If you want to get a phone on a plan, you will likely have to make extra monthly payments as well.
The good news is that there are plenty of opportunities to pick up cheap phones from retail partners if you shop around. Mid-range phones are also a solid option, with performance similar to the flagship models of 12–24 months ago.
Buying a new smartphone is an investment, not just in terms of the physical product but also in how you use the device. With many phones purchased on 24-month contracts, making sure you're happy with your purchase over time is almost as important as the desire to get the shiniest new phone.
How to compare mobile phones
Whether you're picking up a top of the line phone or just a cheap prepaid device, there are a number of factors you should consider before you make your purchase:
Screen size
The trend over the past few years has definitely tended towards the "bigger is better" mantra, with phone screens approaching 6 inches on the diagonal. Having a bigger screen makes reading text and watching videos easier, but drains the battery faster and can be difficult to control 1-handed.
Screen resolution
Smartphone screen technology has come a long way in the past few years, with 4K capable screens now accessible. For the most part, those resolutions are wasted on a device smaller than 6 inches, but it's worth comparing the pixels per inch (PPI) specification to see just how many pixels the manufacturer was able to cram into an inch, with more pixels generally resulting in a crisper image on screen.
Battery life
While manufacturers have managed to offer battery life improvements through both cramming more battery into larger phones and reducing battery consumption through smarter software, the tech behind batteries still remains largely the same as it was when Apple launched the first iPhone. For a full day's battery life, you should probably focus on phones with 3,000mAh or more.
Connectivity
Not all Australian carriers use the same network frequencies, so ensuring your phone works on the full spectrum of frequencies for your carrier is essential. It is fairly complicated, but you can compare the networks and their respective frequencies to get a better idea.
Camera
The smartphone camera has all but replaced the compact digital camera market, and the quality of phone photos gets better every year. It's not all about megapixels though, with sensor size and multiple lens technologies helping make smartphone pictures even better.
Storage
If your phone is going to house your entire life, including photos, videos and everything in between, make sure you have enough storage to keep it all. Lower storage devices are cheaper but look for an expandable memory microSD slot in Android phones so you can expand the capacity. Alternatively, look for a higher capacity device.
Mobile phone contracts
Not all phones are available on contract over 24 months. If you can't grab a phone on contract, be prepared to pay more for the phone up front. However, doing so will likely save you money in the long run.
*Brand did not meet the sample threshold to qualify for the award
Data: Finder Retail Brand Survey, 2020, Kantar. Metric out of 5 stars unless indicated. Methodology and more info.
Previous Retail Awards
Best Rated Mobile Phone Brand: Huawei
Huawei has been awarded the top mobile phone brand in Australia, as chosen by users with 90% of surveyed users recommending Huawei mobile phones. The Chinese brand received the highest overall score as well as the top score for design across all brands. Customers also gave Huawei high ratings for ease of use, camera quality, battery life and value for money.
Overall rating
Recommended
Camera quality
Value for money
Design
Ease of use
Included software
Battery life
Huawei
4.34
90%
4.43
4.28
4.39
4.46
4.11
4.32
Google
4.29
100%
4.62
4.12
4.3
4.48
4.38
4.26
Xiaomi
4.33
94%
3.83
4.39
4.25
4.25
3.81
4.58
Sony
4.25
92%
4.25
4.04
4.38
4.17
4
3.79
Oppo
4.16
95%
4.19
4.34
4.3
4.15
3.89
4.15
Samsung
4.08
94%
4.27
4.04
4.22
4.2
3.94
3.91
Apple
4.05
95%
4.27
3.52
4.19
4.33
4.13
3.76
Telstra
3.92
85%
3.73
3.9
3.97
3.83
3.37
3.71
Motorola
3.73
92%
3.67
4.17
3.92
4.1
4.06
3.98
LG
3.77
75%
3.81
4.15
3.96
4.04
3.38
3.54
Nokia
3.64
81%
3.49
3.97
3.84
3.96
3.62
3.82
Alcatel
3.5
71%
3.32
3.96
3.25
3.71
3
3.61
Optus
3.23
64%
3.75
4.46
3.81
3.71
3.12
2.88
HTC
3.2
44%
3.35
3.5
3.6
3.35
2.85
3.15
Aspera*
3.75
50%
4.75
3.75
4
4
2.5
2.75
ASUS*
4
100%
4
3.5
4
4
4
4
Kogan*
3.67
67%
3.83
3.83
3.83
3.83
4
4
Konka*
2
2
2.5
3
2
0.5
3
Lenovo*
3.5
100%
4
3.5
4
4
4
3.5
OnePlus*
4.19
100%
3.94
4.5
4.13
4.19
4.19
4.38
ZTE*
3.92
80%
4.4
4.67
4.17
4.17
3.92
4
*Brand did not meet the sample threshold to qualify for the award
Data: Finder Retail Brand Survey, 2019, Roy Morgan. Metric out of 5 stars unless otherwise indicated. Methodology and more info.
Nick Broughall is a global group publisher across shopping, travel, tech, streaming and reviews at Finder. An award-winning journalist with over 15 years' experience writing about technology, Nick has edited leading tech publications, including Gizmodo, TechRadar and T3 Magazine, as well as contributing to CNET, the Sydney Morning Herald, Lifehacker, news.com.au and many more. In 2016 he was awarded the Best Reviewer title at the 14th Annual IT Journalism Awards and has been a finalist for Best Reviewer, Best Consumer Technology Journalist and Best News Journalist on multiple occasions. Nick has a Bachelor of Media and finds joy in solving problems with technology.
Motorola’s lagged behind Samsung in the foldable stakes for years now, but the Motorola RAZR 2022 flips that script, delivering an excellent (but expensive) foldable with great battery life.
If bigger phones leave you exasperated but you crave power, there’s a lot to like about the ASUS Zenfone 9 – with a few limitations along the way too.
Hi. I’m looking to buy a cheap mobile and am considering the Samsung Galaxy J5 Pro and the LG Q7.
Key considerations include: reliability, operating speed, ease of use, battery life and camera quality. Your thoughts would be appreciated. Thank you.
While we do not provide specific product recommendations, we can help guide you through the process of comparing options. Please check the links below for our review pages on the Plans | Pricing | Specs for both phones.
I’m looking for a new phone. I have a Samsung S5 that is dying. I’ve been looking at the Samsung J5 and J7, the A5 and A7 or S7 and Huawei Nova 3i. Not sure which would be the best. I mainly use my phone for games, facebook, youtube, internet banking, emails and I like taking photos.
It’s very confusing with so many around. My kids also sometimes use the phone so I dont want to spend too much.
Since you have these prospected brands and models that will replace your dying phone, my best recommendation is to see these handsets personally so you can check how convenient or comfortable they are to you. On this page, it discussed factors you should consider before you make your final decision like the price, screen resolution, battery life etc.
I hope this somewhat helps.
Please feel free to reach out to us if you have any other enquiries.
How likely would you be to recommend finder to a friend or colleague?
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Very UnlikelyExtremely Likely
Required
Thank you for your feedback.
Our goal is to create the best possible product, and your thoughts, ideas and suggestions play a major role in helping us identify opportunities to improve.
Important information about this website
finder.com.au is one of Australia's leading comparison websites. We compare from a wide set of banks, insurers and product issuers. We value our editorial independence and follow editorial guidelines.
finder.com.au has access to track details from the product issuers listed on our sites. Although we provide information on the products offered by a wide range of issuers, we don't cover every available product or service.
Please note that the information published on our site should not be construed as personal advice and does not consider your personal needs and circumstances. While our site will provide you with factual information and general advice to help you make better decisions, it isn't a substitute for professional advice. You should consider whether the products or services featured on our site are appropriate for your needs. If you're unsure about anything, seek professional advice before you apply for any product or commit to any plan and read any disclosure documents (such as any Target Market Determination (TMD) and/or Product Disclosure Statement (PDS)) issued by the provider before making a decision.
Products marked as 'Promoted' or 'Advertisement' are prominently displayed either as a result of a commercial advertising arrangement or to highlight a particular product, provider or feature. Finder may receive remuneration from the Provider if you click on the related link, purchase or enquire about the product. Finder's decision to show a 'promoted' product is neither a recommendation that the product is appropriate for you nor an indication that the product is the best in its category. We encourage you to use the tools and information we provide to compare your options.
Where our site links to particular products or displays 'Go to site' buttons, we may receive a commission, referral fee or payment when you click on those buttons or apply for a product. You can learn more about how we make money.
When products are grouped in a table or list, the order in which they are initially sorted may be influenced by a range of factors including price, fees and discounts; commercial partnerships; product features; and brand popularity. We provide tools so you can sort and filter these lists to highlight features that matter to you.
We try to take an open and transparent approach and provide a broad-based comparison service. However, you should be aware that while we are an independently owned service, our comparison service does not include all providers or all products available in the market.
Some product issuers may provide products or offer services through multiple brands, associated companies or different labelling arrangements. This can make it difficult for consumers to compare alternatives or identify the companies behind the products. However, we aim to provide information to enable consumers to understand these issues.
Providing or obtaining an estimated insurance quote through us does not guarantee you can get the insurance. Acceptance by insurance companies is based on things like occupation, health and lifestyle. By providing you with the ability to apply for a credit card or loan, we are not guaranteeing that your application will be approved. Your application for credit products is subject to the Provider's terms and conditions as well as their application and lending criteria.
Please read our website terms of use and privacy policy for more information about our services and our approach to privacy.
amaysim
The Good Guys
Phonebot
Apple Store
Mobileciti
Bing Lee
Samsung
eBay Australia
Corecolour
Lenovo
Otterbox
OzMobiles
DealeXtreme
Hi. I’m looking to buy a cheap mobile and am considering the Samsung Galaxy J5 Pro and the LG Q7.
Key considerations include: reliability, operating speed, ease of use, battery life and camera quality. Your thoughts would be appreciated. Thank you.
Hi LV,
Thank you for reaching out to finder.
While we do not provide specific product recommendations, we can help guide you through the process of comparing options. Please check the links below for our review pages on the Plans | Pricing | Specs for both phones.
Samsung Galaxy J5 Pro: Plans | Pricing | Specs: https://www.finder.com.au/samsung-galaxy-j5-pro
LG Q7: Plans | Pricing | Specs
Hope this helps!
Cheers,
Reggie
I’m looking for a new phone. I have a Samsung S5 that is dying. I’ve been looking at the Samsung J5 and J7, the A5 and A7 or S7 and Huawei Nova 3i. Not sure which would be the best. I mainly use my phone for games, facebook, youtube, internet banking, emails and I like taking photos.
It’s very confusing with so many around. My kids also sometimes use the phone so I dont want to spend too much.
Thanks
Hi Monica,
Thank you for getting in touch with finder.
Since you have these prospected brands and models that will replace your dying phone, my best recommendation is to see these handsets personally so you can check how convenient or comfortable they are to you. On this page, it discussed factors you should consider before you make your final decision like the price, screen resolution, battery life etc.
I hope this somewhat helps.
Please feel free to reach out to us if you have any other enquiries.
Thank you and have a wonderful day!
Cheers,
Jeni
Do you sell the Nomi phone suitable for seniors? Is so, how much and all details please.
Hi Loretta,
Thanks for getting in touch!
Unfortunately, we don’t have the Nomi Phone available on our site. You may try visiting their website of this to check on details and price.
Thanks,
Nikki