Mobile Phone Finder® will help find your next phone
Choosing your next mobile phone doesn't need to be overwhelming. Our comprehensive guides will help find the best phone for you.
Top Amazon mobile phone deals
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.
Compare mobile phones
Save on your next smartphone with these coupon codes
Phonebot
Up to 50% off entire refurbished tech range
Save up to 50% on selected smartphones, tablets, laptops and wearable tech from Apple, Samsung, Google Pixel, Motorola and more at Phonebot. Limited time offer and while stocks last. T&Cs, exclusions apply.
Kogan
Up to 28% off + free shipping on all iPhone 15 models
Don't miss out on this limited-time offer at Kogan. T&Cs apply.
Otterbox
Up to 20% off Otter + Pop Symmetry iPhone cases
Protect your new iPhone with the Otter + Pop Symmetry cases on sale for up to 20% off at OtterBox. Hurry while stocks last. T&Cs apply.
Apple Store
Get up to $1,060 in credit towards your next iPhone
Out with the old and in with the new iPhone 14! Upgrade and get up to $950 in credit when you trade in your old iPhone. Exclusions, T&Cs apply.
Temu
Up to 23% off Mobile Phones
Discounts applied at checkout. Valid for a limited time only at Temu. Exclusions, T&Cs apply.
Green Gadgets
iPhone 12 from just $369
Get a refurbished iPhone 12 for as low as $369 at Green Gadgets. Limited time offer. While stocks last. T&Cs, exclusions apply.
Phonebot
Refurbished iPhones from $99
Buy fully working, Grade A refurbished Apple iPhones from Phonebot for as little as $99. T&Cs apply.
CrazySales.com.au
Up to 40% off Apple iPhone accessories
Get up to 40% off Apple iPhone accessories at CrazySales.com.au while stocks last. T&Cs apply.
Amazon
Up to 28% off mobile phones & smart phones
Shop up to 28% off mobile phones & smartphones like Apple, Samsung, Nokia, Motorola, and more. While stocks last. T&Cs apply.
Amazon
iPhones from $887
Shop for iPhones and other Apple products and accessories at Amazon. While stocks last. T&Cs apply.
Otterbox
20% off your second phone case
Offer applies to smartphone cases at OtterBox. Discount will apply to the cheaper of the two and applicable on the 2nd, 4th, 6th cases purchased, and so on. T&Cs apply.
Otterbox
20% off Magsafe Symmetry Series case for iPhone 14+
Save 20% off on iPhone 14+ cases from Magsafe Symmetry Series at Otterbox. While stocks last. T&Cs apply.
Fruugo Australia
Up to 72% off electronics & electrical
Shop mobile phones, gadgets, accessories and more at Fruugo and score big savings. Hurry while stocks last. T&Cs apply.
MyDeal
Up to $349 off selected mobile phones
Shop and save on selected mobile phones from Apple, Samung, Nokia, Google Phones, and more at MyDeal. T&Cs apply.
MyDeal
Apple iPhone 14 from $745
Get the Apple iPhone 14 starting from $745 at MyDeal while stocks last. T&Cs apply.
Lenovo
Up to 33% off Lenovo Tablets and Motorola phones
Save up to 33% on Lenovo tablets and Motorola phones. Enjoy discounts on popular models like the Lenovo Tab M11 and Motorola smartphones. Valid for a limited time only and while stocks last. T&Cs apply.
Kogan
20% off Apple iPhone 14 128GB
Get 20% off Apple iPhone 14 128GB at Kogan from $1,047 down to $836. While stocks last. T&Cs apply.
The Good Guys
Apple iPhones from $788
Get Apple iPhones from $788 at The Good Guys while stocks last. T&Cs apply.
The Good Guys
Up to 25% off mobile phones & smart phones
Shop up to 25% off mobile phones & smartphones like Apple, Samsung, TCL, Motorola, and more. While stocks last. T&Cs apply.
Phonebot
Up to 37% off Apple iPhones
Shop and get up to 37% off Apple iPhones at Phonebot while stocks last. T&Cs apply.
Phonebot
Up to 30% off Apple iPhone 14 (refurbished)
Get up to 30% off Apple iPhone 14 (refurbished) at Phonebot while stocks last. T&Cs apply.
Phonebot
28% off Apple iPhone 14 Pro 5G
Get the Apple iPhone 14 Pro 5G, 1TB, Grade A, now for only $1,149, down from $2,599 at Phonebot. T&Cs apply.
Kogan
Up to 25% off Apple iPhones for FIRST members
Get up to 25% off Apple iPhones for FIRST members at Kogan while stocks last. T&Cs apply.
The Good Guys
Up to $400 off mobile phones
Enjoy great discounts on mobile phones when you shop at The Good Guys. Hurry before stocks run out. T&Cs apply.
The Good Guys
Extra 20% off clearance sale
Get extra savings on clearance items including kitchen and cooking appliances, phones, tablets, computers, and more. While stocks last. T&Cs apply.
Lenovo
Extra 5% off your first purchase at Lenovo
Sign up for Lenovo's newsletter and get an extra 5% off your first purchase of computers, tablets, phones and accessories at Lenovo. T&Cs apply.
digiDirect
FREE shipping on orders over $99
Enjoy FREE shipping when you shop for cameras, computers, mobiles and more. While stocks last. T&Cs apply.
OzMobiles
Free 30-day return for all phones
Buy your phone from OzMobiles and enjoy their free 30-day return policy. T&Cs, exclusions apply.
What you should consider when you compare mobile phones
Android vs iOS
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.
For more information, check out our comprehensive guides to mobile plans.
Best rated mobile phone brand award breakdown
Xiaomi* |
8.33 |
4.43 |
4.71 |
4.57 |
4.43 |
4.71 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Apple |
8.03 |
4.53 |
3.78 |
4.00 |
4.24 |
4.31 |
Samsung |
7.84 |
4.33 |
4.04 |
4.06 |
4.25 |
4.18 |
Huawei |
7.83 |
4.28 |
4.33 |
4.28 |
3.97 |
4.31 |
Sony |
7.73 |
4.27 |
4.09 |
4.00 |
4.18 |
4.36 |
Nokia |
7.65 |
4.14 |
4.24 |
3.95 |
4.11 |
4.19 |
Oppo |
7.60 |
4.14 |
4.29 |
4.29 |
3.96 |
4.14 |
HTC* |
7.54 |
4.50 |
3.75 |
3.25 |
3.75 |
3.75 |
Motorola |
7.52 |
4.00 |
4.20 |
4.20 |
3.90 |
3.80 |
Google |
7.43 |
4.13 |
4.13 |
3.81 |
3.81 |
3.69 |
Optus |
6.79 |
3.75 |
3.83 |
3.83 |
3.50 |
4.17 |
Telstra |
6.73 |
3.74 |
3.42 |
3.74 |
3.37 |
3.74 |
Other |
6.62 |
3.56 |
4.07 |
3.74 |
3.63 |
3.59 |
LG |
6.29 |
3.27 |
4.07 |
3.67 |
3.27 |
3.47 |
Alcatel |
6.10 |
3.29 |
3.82 |
3.47 |
3.12 |
3.47 |
Data: Finder Retail Brand Survey, 2020, Kantar. Metric out of 5 stars unless indicated. Methodology and more info. 
Previous Retail Awards
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