The best mobile phones for internet

Mobile internet is one of the most popular features on smartphones, mainly because it lets you browse the internet, update Facebook, check emails and shop on Amazon anywhere.

But if you’re a mobile internet virgin and find the choice of smartphones a little overwhelming, fear not. We’ve picked out some of the best mobile phones around for surfing the net, as well as the mobile data tariffs that won’t break the bank.

The key features of a mobile internet smartphone

If you plan on using your mobile phone or smartphone for surfing the internet then be sure that it has these three key features:

1. 3G - A sort of data connection that lets smartphones surf the internet while you’re out and about. Pretty much every modern smartphone supports 3G.
2. Wi-fi - If you have a wi-fi network set-up at home or work then your smartphone will be able to wirelessly surf the internet at faster speeds than it can over 3G. Surfing over wi-fi won’t eat up your mobile deal’s monthly internet allowance but it will eat into your home broadband download limit.
3. A touchscreen - Touchscreens let you browse webpages simply by sliding and tapping your fingers over a glass screen. Typing on touchscreens isn’t to everyone’s liking though, so some smartphones, such as the BlackBerry Bold 9780, also have a physical keypad for easier and faster typing.

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Compare mobile internet tariffs

To avoid an expensive mobile internet bill from your network provider, it’s best to compare mobile internet tariffs online to find a deal that includes a set amount of “3G mobile internet” use.

The most common 3G mobile internet packages on pay-monthly tariffs are:

• 500MB - Enough for checking and replying to emails, keeping up with social networks and general browsing. But not enough to download films or music.
• 750MB - A better option if you plan on browsing the internet every day for short periods and downloading a few podcasts or music albums each month.
• 1GB - Enough for frequent web browsing and for downloading various types of content, such as music, short videos and pictures. However, it’s still not enough to download lots of films.

Pay-as-you-go users are normally charged per megabyte (MB), meaning anything but the very occasional check of Facebook or BBC News from your mobile phone could see you rack up a hefty mobile internet bill.

Always read the small print on your mobile phone contract carefully because, despite some describing some mobile internet smartphone packages as “unlimited”, the vast majority enforce a 750MB or 1GB “fair usage cap”.

Some providers warn you by text message when you’re getting close to the limit, while others simply slow down your phone’s internet connection once you’ve exceeded the cap. Others will add the cost of your extra browsing to your monthly bill.

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The iPhone 4

The iPhone 4 is a great choice if you’re new to the world of mobile internet.

It’s easy to use, has a decent size touchscreen and, if you already use an Apple Mac at work or home, then you should find its Safari browser intuitive and easy to navigate the internet with.

iPhone 4 (16GB)(black) £0.00

200 min Unlimited texts

£18.50

HTC Desire HD

The HTC Desire HD has a big 5in touchscreen makes this smartphone a good choice if you plan on watching YouTube videos, or if you simply want to see more of your favourite websites onscreen.

Desire HD(black) £0.00

200 min 200 texts

£12.00

Samsung Galaxy Tab

The Samsung Galaxy Tab is normally thought of as a tablet PC, much like the Apple iPad. But the Galaxy Tab actually makes a great mobile internet phone because of its large 7in touchscreen, wi-fi and 3G support and its ability to make telephone calls.

Galaxy Tab (Wi-Fi + 3G)(black) £199.99

600 min 1000 texts

£24.00

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