Top Back to School Smartphones for Students

Smartphones do more today than any phones of the past. They can make a student's life more organized and help you keep in touch while on the go. But since the phones are pricey, choosing the right one is very important. Here are my top five back to school smartphone picks.

BlackBerry

I have the BlackBerry Curve 9300 3G and this is a fantastic phone that gives you everything you need and has good apps and other features. There are also other BlackBerry styles to choose from like the Bold or the Torch, based on your specific needs. The price varies according to your cell phone plan and contract. You can also purchase the phone for prepaid use for about $300-$350. This is a great phone to use to keep up with social media, using messenger services, calendars and planning and even taking notes. It's small and lightweight, has a lot of compatible accessories and is perfect for students.

iPhone 4

The iPhone is incredibly popular with the student crowd, or with any smartphone user for that matter, and you will usually find people either love or hate the Apple series of products. If you are an Apple fanboy then the iPhone 4 is probably for you. The price is high without a contract (around $650 new) but there are many contract packages you can get to help you save money. It's sleek, small and full of great gadgets. It has a sharp screen, a great camera for photo taking and webcam use, loads of applications and it's compatible with Mac computers, making it a practical choice if you are already a Mac user. It supports web browsing, email and the works as well as iPhone games and iTunes. It can act as your MP3 player but keep in mind it can also be very distracting when term papers are due. It's a great student toy but the practicality justifies the price as well.

Samsung Droid Charge

This one is available from Verizon Wireless as well as for AT&T users. It uses Android OS and is the popular choice for Android users. Its fast processor keeps you in the loop and gives you speedy and dependable response time. It has a large 4.3in touch screen that is easy to use. It has a great camera and lots of apps and other options. It averages about $300 in price but can vary according to your contract.

T-Mobile Sidekick 4G6

I heard a lot of good things about this phone but I wasn't sure until I saw it for myself. This is a great phone choice for students, especially those who do a lot of messaging. It's part of the T-Mobile 4G network and has a great keyboard for texting. It comes with a decent-sized 3.5 inch screen and it's more moderately priced than many of the other Smartphones. The 4G wireless is not as fast as some other brands but it's perfect for lots of texting and messaging. If you just need basic email and the ability to text, then this is a more affordable option for you than some of the above-mentioned phones. It starts at around $130 but can vary according to your plan.