Top 5 Best Phones for Taking Selfies

Totally obsessed with taking selfies? Whether you’re an Instagram power user or you just do a lot of videoconferencing for work, there are plenty of good reasons for buying a new phone with selfies in mind. You can even pair one of these phones with a selfie stick to take even better self-portraits. These are the best smartphones for the selfie-obsessed.

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1. HTC One

The original HTC One smartphone scored top marks on a New York Times list of best cameras for taking selfies, thanks to its rich colors and solid performance in low-light conditions. The new-for-2014 HTC One has an improved camera, so the new HTC One is also a solid bet for selfie fans. Whether you choose the original HTC One or the new HTC One M8, you can feel good about the photos you take.

Buy it here.

Pros:
• Ergonomic
• Attractive design
• Metal body feels luxe and premium
• Top-rated front-facing camera
• Large screen

Cons:
• So-so battery life
• Camera may be good for selfies, but less good for other types of photos
• Button configuration disliked by some
• HTC Zoe takes up too much space
• Not everyone likes Sense, HTC’s skin for Android

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2. Samsung Galaxy S5

The S5 is Samsung’s flagship smartphone, and it’s packed to the gills with cool features. The S5 has an auto-focus that focuses in just .03 seconds. The camera also has advanced HDR, allowing you to take photos with richer colors. The rear camera is 16MP, while the front camera is 2MP. In short, this camera is designed with photography in mind.

Buy it here.

Pros:
• Boasts fingerprint scanner and heart rate monitor
• Private mode browsing keeps your selfies on lockdown
• Also great for fitness fans, as it syncs with numerous Samsung wearables
• Impressive battery life
• Water resistant

Cons:
• Expensive
• UI is not intuitive
• Not a massive step-up from the previous model
• Selective focus camera mode is cumbersome to operate
• Some people think the case looks like a band-aid, particular the amber-colored model

3. LG G Flex

It’s hard to find a smartphone with a good front-facing camera, but the G Flex has a really nice one that clocks in at 2.1 MP. The curved design of the phone is a bit divisive, but it does feel very ergonomic, making it more comfortable to hold when you go on a selfie binge in the bathroom.

Buy it here.

Pros:
• Curved design reduces glare when watching videos or looking at photos
• Solid camera functionality
• Battery is long-lasting; phone goes 2-3 days between charges
• Feels ergonomic in the hand and against your face
• “Self-healing” material keeps phone scratch-free

Cons:
• Some find the curved design of the phone gimmicky
• Underwhelming display clarity
• Expensive, but sometimes feels cheap because of UI
• Video recording is only so-so
• Default web browser is sluggish

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4. Sony Xperia Z2

The Xperia Z2’s BIONZ™ mobile image-processing engine makes the camera work well in low light conditions, eliminates blur, and makes taking selfies just plain simple. Plus, it’s waterproof, making this a smart buy for anyone who likes taking selfies on the beach.

Buy it here.

Pros:
• Waterproof
• Also shoots 4K video
• 2.2 MP front camera, rear camera over 20 MP
• BIONZ™ for mobile image-processing engine
• Best camera phone from the Sony line

Cons:
• Doesn’t feel comfortable in your hand
• UI is hard to navigate
• Camera is quality, but interface is slow to load
• Noise cancellation feature requires special Sony headphones
• No optical image stabilization (but does have digital stabilization)

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5. iPhone 5s

The iPhone may not have the highest megapixel count (a mere 1.2MP on the front camera), but that doesn’t mean the camera on 5s is wimpy. In fact, the iPhone 5s is great for taking self-portraits, thanks to a variety of intuitive camera apps. Pocket Lint suggests taking selfies with iOS apps like Picr, Frontback or Samba.

Buy it here.

Pros:
• Slo-mo videos now supported
• App Store has a wide variety of camera apps
• Native camera app includes Auto HDR
• Cool TouchID sensor reads your fingerprint
• Great camera interface

Cons:
• No expandable memory
• Front and rear camera slightly under the average MP for Android phones
• Wimpy battery life
• Small screen compared to some Android phones
• Phone is hard to customize

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Considering getting someone an electronics gift this holiday season? Check out our Gifts section for tons of great gift recommendations, or visit our ultimate guides to the best gifts for women and best gifts for men.

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