Many options exist today when one tries to choose a smartphone either online or in the market. Some of the best smartphones may not always be beautiful and vice versa. While some buyers prioritize looks, there are others who prefer functionality over everything else.

Here is a list of the five best smartphones of 2017 that are candy to the eyes too:

• Samsung Galaxy S8/S8 Plus

This phone walks away with the number one position, both in terms of functionality and in terms of looks. It’s the Infinity Display that gives the smartphone a fabulous appearance. The top and bottom bezel are minimized for a seamless look. Ample RAM is available in this smartphone, along with the provision to add many microSD cards.

• Apple iPhone 7/7 Plus

With the top Android smartphone making it to the list, the top draw phone from Apple cannot be left far behind. Fit and finish are what make it to the list of top smartphones in the world. The device is capable of surviving in water for a long time. However, it ranks below the Galaxy S8 as it does not have the feature of fast charging. This one’s a real beauty though.

• Huawei Mate 9

Chinese smartphones have captured the entire market, and Huawei is no different. The Huawei Mate 9 is easily available on Amazon for users in the US as well as in retail shops, but most phones from the company are not available in retail stores. It’s the 5.9-inch screen in this device that stands out in comparison to most. 4GB RAM, 64GB of internal storage and a massive 4000 mAH battery are adequate for it to be on the list of best smartphones of 2017.

• Nubia Z11

If you are a fan of super slim smartphones, then this one is definitely meant for you. The modern design of this phone can be viewed in black and royal gold colors. It comes with the unique feature of a macro camera, using which you can shoot great macro photos with amazing angles. 4 shutter modes and 3 focus modes are available.

• OnePlus 3

The appeal of this smartphone lies in its metal body. Due to this body, it feels premium and appears great. Its design is what makes it one of the best smartphones of 2017.

Each one of the top smartphones is a delight for any owner. If you’re wondering which phone to choose, one of the above smartphones will make a great choice.

Today’s smartphones are used for a variety of purposes, which is essentially why they are “smarter” than phones from the previous generation. Messaging, making a room or table reservation, and checking train reservations are just some of their diverse uses. However, one significant area where the best smartphones of 2017 are used is gaming.

Here are some of the best smartphones that are definitely worth buying to enjoy a game or two:

• Apple iPhone 7 Plus

This is the fastest smartphone in the market by a fair margin. Incredible graphics and amazingly quick frame rates are some of the factors that place it among the best smartphones in the world for gaming. Additionally, the 5.5-inch display allows you to have a superior gaming experience.

• OnePlus 5

Launched relatively recently, OnePlus 5 is ideally suited for gamers who look for a lot of battery life and power but do not have too much money to spend on it. It is certainly among the top smartphones in the market due to its high processor speed. The Qualcomm Snapdragon processor is capable of handling the processing requirements for most gaming applications.

• Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus

These are definitely among the best smartphones for gaming in the market, assuming that you can afford them. Their screens are fairly large: 5.8 inches in the S8 and 6.2 inches in the S8 Plus. That apart, Samsung Gear VR, available with the Galaxy S8 Plus, will allow you to extend your gaming experience into Virtual Reality. In addition, Samsung Game tools allow a user to enjoy the games in full screen and not in letterbox mode.

• Google Pixel XL

Among the top smartphones for the gaming world is the Google Pixel XL. Its screen size is the same as the iPhone 7 Plus. Although QHD does reduce the number of frames processed, you will be unable to know the difference.

• Motorola Moto Z Play

One of the major selling points of this phone is its high battery life, though it may not have specs as good as the other smartphones. The 3510 mAh capacity of the battery allows it to be used by mobile gamers for a long time.

A variety of smartphones are available in the market today, each with its own set of strengths and weaknesses. None of the best smartphones for gaming can remain at the top of the chart for too long, considering competition in the market. However, these are the best we found this year.

Flip phones are not a thing of the past. They are best to use when you need a basic phone for simply talking and texting. Here are our five best picks:

• LG 450

LG 450 comes with a compact flip design. It is one of the best flip phones by LG. It has cool features like text to speech conversion. The phone has a battery capacity of 950mAh and an internal memory of 256MB. It also has a 1.3MP camera along with a camcorder. The phone comes with bundled services from T-Mobile.

• Motorola RAZR V3

This Motorola model is perfect for regular use. The device has an ultra-thin design and offers a decent performance. It’s a full duplex speakerphone and lets you access the Web, e-mail, Bluetooth, and messages like SMS, MMS, and EMS. The phone has a VGA digital camera and a 680mAh lithium-ion battery.

• Convoy 3 512MB

This phone comes from one of the most premium brands—Samsung. The phone has a rugged and tough design. The sturdy body makes it withstand shock, dust, humidity, extreme temperature, and more. The phone comes with dual microphones that let you communicate easily due to the noise cancellation technology. It is one of the best flip phones you can own.

• Blackberry Style 9670

This Blackberry model is a smartphone. It is a 3G-enabled phone and comes with a full QWERTY keyboard. With its 5MP camera, you are sure to click amazing pictures. You may expand the memory of the phone with a microSD card to store more photos. Other specifications of the phone include Bluetooth stereo music, HTML Web browser, and wireless-N Wi-Fi.

• Nokia 6350

Coming from a trusted brand, Nokia 6350 is a phone with multiple features and capabilities. This phone supports wireless music streaming and downloaded MP3 files. The clamshell design of the phone offers internal screen protection and keeps the keypad clean. The phone also has a small external screen for ease of use.

The above mentioned flip phones are among the best in the market. Depending on your preference, select the one you like the most.

Flip phones these days come with a number of features. They come in varied types and prices as well.

If you are looking for a budget flip phone, then you have come to the right place. Here’s a list of the top four flip phones priced under USD 40.

• LG Exalt

The first in the list is LG Exalt that you may buy on a contract with Verizon. Its large keys and narrow design make it easy to use. The phone has a 3-inch display, a 2MP camera, and a 900mAh battery. It supports text-to-speech conversions. The phone is also GPS-enabled and equipped with Family Locator service to ensure that you and your loved ones never lose their way.

• Alcatel OneTouch Retro

This is one of the cheapest flip phones on this list of phones tied to Sprint prepaid service. The phone has a 2.4-inch display along with an external caller ID display. Its 2MP camera enables video recording. The phone has large buttons for ease of typing. It is also compatible with Bluetooth and music player. If the phone’s memory is insufficient for you, then you may expand it externally using a 32GB microSD card.

• ZTE Z222

This ZTE model is one of the best options for budget flip phones. You may buy this phone on a contract with AT&T. The phone is also supported by other carriers like Straight Talk and H2O. It operates on dual-band GSM 850/1900MHz wireless networks and requires a full-size SIM card. Apart from all this, the phone has Bluetooth 2.0 technology.

• LG B470

LG has always been our favorite, and hence, here’s another LG model on the list. This phone is the perfect blend of convenience, functionality, accessibility, and affordability. It has a 2.2-inch main and bright display. The phone has a 1.3MP camera along with video Bluetooth connectivity. Its text-to-speech conversion feature lets you listen to your texts and is very helpful at times when your reading glasses are not around.

All of these flip phones make the best options if you want to buy something that is good as well as inexpensive.

The Federal Lifeline Assistance program introduced in the 1980s helped several households get free landline phones and monthly plans. When the plan got extended to cell phones, a lot of individuals and households benefited even more as it involves getting wireless cell phones and phone plans for free for a month.

Cell phones are very beneficial as you can carry them everywhere and make sure that you do not miss any important calls. The cell phones provided by Q Link Wireless support a number of functions and fulfill all basic phone needs.

With the free Q Link Wireless phones and their plans, the users can get 350 minutes for a month along with 500 MB data and unlimited texting.

How to qualify for the free Q Link Wireless phone program?

To be eligible for the free government plans and Q Link Wireless phones, you should fall under either of the qualification criteria:

1. Your household income should be low as per the Federal Poverty Guidelines. The poverty guidelines for each state differ and so do check your state’s guidelines to find out if you qualify for the program.
2. You are already receiving benefits from other governmental initiatives for the financially disadvantaged. These schemes include the following:

• Federal Public Housing Assistance
• Medicaid
• Supplement Security Income
• Supplement Nutrition Assistance Program
• Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations
• Bureau of Indian Affair General Assistance
• Tribally Administered Temporary Assistance for Needy Families

How to Apply?

If you are eligible to enjoy the free phone benefits under the Lifeline Assistance program, you can get your free Q Link Wireless phones in a matter of few steps. The easiest way to do it is visiting the official Q Link Wireless website and registering your email id and zip code. You need to then upload the required documents on the Q Link Wireless website. These documents are for proof of eligibility and are compulsory for getting the free Q Link Wireless phones. Once you have submitted your documents and have got it verified, the company then ships the phone to you.

You can always check the status of your application for free Q Link Wireless Phones on the carrier’s website to stay informed.

Staying connected wherever you go has become very easy since the advent of cell phones. And with the introduction of the smartphone one can achieve more than just staying connected through calls, one can now check emails, chat online, socialize online, shop, and much more.

There is an availability of a wide range of phones and phone plans from as low as USD 3. Despite plans that are so low, there are several households in America that still don’t have access to cell phones and cell phone plans owing to the poor financial condition.

To help such individuals, the Federal Communication Commission introduced the Lifeline Assistance Program that offers free landline phones and phone plans to the eligible households. The same program benefits were extended to cell phones in 2005 as a part of which the beneficiaries get a free phone and monthly plan from one of the partner carriers they opt for. For example, if people eligible for the program choose Q Link wireless, they get free Q Link wireless phones and phone plans from the carrier. Here are some of the benefits of opting for Q Link wireless free plans:

• Seamless coverage is very important for staying connected all the time. Q Link wireless phones get coverage in almost all the states of the US keeping every user connected all the time. Having no coverage just defeats the purpose of providing the cell phones to stay in touch. Apart from staying connected, one needs cell phone coverage in emergency situations as well to call 911.
• With the Q Link wireless phones and free plans, the users can get 350 minutes, unlimited texting, and 500 MB – all for a month. Other features that users can enjoy as a part of the free plans include call waiting, free domestic roaming, free 911 calls, caller ID, and carry over minutes among the others.
• If you run out of credit on your Q Link wireless phones, you can always refill it from the Q Link wireless website.

If you enjoy the Q Link Wireless services, you can always refer a friend to the carrier and get 10 free bonus minutes. Contact the carrier today to know more about the plan.

If you are still researching as to where to get free government cell phones, you may want to consider the below companies:

• SafeLink Wireless

SafeLink Wireless tops the list of the best free government cell phone providers. Its plans vary depending upon your zip code. This company gives you a choice between using your old phone with their plans or getting a free device along with their plans. It offers services in the following states:

• Alabama
• District of Colombia
• Delaware
• Florida
• Hawaii
• Massachusetts
• Mississippi
• New Hampshire
• New Jersey
• New Mexico
• New York
• North Carolina
• Tennessee

• Assurance Wireless

Assurance Wireless comes second in the best free government cell phone providers’ list. Following are its plan features:

• A free Android smartphone
• 350 voice minutes per month
• Unlimited text messages
• 500 MB data per month

It offers services in the following states:

• Alabama
• Colorado
• Delaware
• District of Colombia
• Florida
• Idaho
• Massachusetts
• Minnesota
• Mississippi
• New Hampshire
• New Jersey
• New Mexico
• New York
• Oregon
• Tennessee

• Life Wireless

As per this program, Life Wireless had the fourth place in the top free government cell phone providers list. However, the company which was at number three i.e. Budget Mobile exited the program in the spring of 2017. Here are some of Life Wireless’ features for its free government cell phone plans:

• Call anyone anywhere in the country at no extra charge
• Call waiting
• Three-way calling
• Caller ID service
• Unlimited text messaging (Does not include MMS)
• Free 911 service
• Voicemail
• No roaming charges

It offers services in the following states:

• Colorado
• Minnesota
• North Dakota
• Oklahoma

The common states where all three companies provide services are the following:

• Arizona
• Arkansas
• California
• Connecticut
• Georgia
• Indiana
• Iowa
• Kentucky
• Kansas
• Illinois
• Louisiana
• Maryland
• Missouri
• Nevada
• Ohio
• Michigan
• Pennsylvania
• Puerto Rico
• Rhode Island
• South Carolina
• Maine
• Texas
• Utah
• Washington
• West Virginia
• Wisconsin.

Enroll for the free government cell phone program today.