New Smartphones news and reviews

In the market for a new phone? There's no end to the cool things they can do.

With the Apple's iPhone 5s, just scan your fingertip to unlock the screen. A Samsung model answers calls with the wave of your hand. And Sony's got a phone that can survive an accidental dunk.

"The newest phones do loads of things, but you can easily get lost in all their features. In our labs, we've identified the essentials," said Mike Gikas of Consumer Reports.

An important thing to consider is a high-quality display, which helps when you're online, reading an e-book or watching video.

Don't forget about screen size. Four-and-a-half inches used to be the exception, but there are more phones with even bigger screens now, and they still fit your hand.

Camera quality is another selling point.

"Cameras keep improving, and a lot of new phones have controls and editing tools that make your pictures even better," Gikas said.

Battery life is also important because your phone needs to keep up with you.

"There are some that actually let you talk for more than 24 hours on a single charge," Gikas said.

Consumer Reports' top-rated recommendations include the Samsung Galaxy S4 for Android phones. It has a high-quality display, a great camera and long-lasting battery. Also consider the LG G2, which has an excellent display and battery life.

If you prefer Apple's operating system, the iPhone 5s has many great features.

Consumer Reports also tested Apple's new iPhone 5c, which comes in fun colors like blue, green and pink. Although it's a little chunkier than the 5s, it is cheaper, and they share a lot features, including a top-notch camera and excellent 4-inch display.