Amita Persaud uses her Blackberry smart phone as more than just a phone.
"My smart phone is my calendar. It's my MP3 player. It's my camera. It's my banking. It's my e-mail access, my web browsing. I can keep in touch with everyone through social networking. You name it, I have it on my cell phone," she said.
Consumer Reports has put dozens of smart phones through a series of tests.
To check voice quality, a high-tech dummy is hooked up to a computer that simulates phone calls. Software analyzes the incoming and outgoing sound.
Since many people also use their phone as a camera, Consumer Reports also tested picture quality.
Testers rate how easy it is to text message, view e-mail and browse the web. And they also assess how long the battery lasts.
The very popular iPhone 4 is a fine performer. However, Consumer Reports' tests found that if you touch a gap on the phone's lower left side, you could lose your connection.
Apple says call to request a free bumper to alleviate the problem.
Among the top-rated phones in Consumer Reports' tests are a number of Android phones, including the Samsung Captivate for Rogers' customers.
Consumer Reports also recommends the Samsung Vibrant, with Bell Mobility.
"These phones were among the highest scoring in our ratings, particularly when it came to their displays, which are especially adept at showing high-definition video," said the magazine's Mike Gikas.
And if you plan to do a lot of downloading from the internet onto your phone make sure you have a big enough data plan. Because if you have to buy data outside of a plan it can be really expensive.
With a report from CTV British Columbia's Chris Olsen
