We test each phone in real-world scenarios, focusing on its features, design, performance, cameras, battery life, and overall value. We document our findings in an initial review that is updated periodically when there are new software updates or to compare them with new phones from competitors such as Apple, Samsung, Google and OnePlus.
Emergency SOS debuted on the iPhone 14 series and we were able to test the feature to see how it works.
Kevin Heinz/CNET
Photography
Photography is a major focus for most phones today, so we take photos and videos of various subjects in a variety of environments and lighting scenarios. We tested new camera modes, like the ProRes Log video that debuted with the iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max, or the Magic Editor photography tool that launched with the Google Pixel 8 series.
Battery duration
Battery testing comes in a variety of forms. We assess how long a phone lasts during a typical day of use, and look at how it performs during more concentrated sessions of video calling, media streaming, and gaming. We also run a video playback test, as a simple, replicable measure of pure battery life, which isn’t always included in the initial review but is sometimes added later in an update.
Performance measurement
We used benchmarking apps to measure each phone’s performance, along with our own anecdotal experiences using the phone for our review. Most notable is the look of the graphics and animations. They’re soft? Do they lag or stutter? We also look at how quickly the phone switches between landscape and portrait orientation, and how quickly the camera app opens and is ready to take a photo.
We also test every phone we review for basics like making a phone call.
Kevin Heinz/CNET
We perform processing-intensive tasks like editing photos, exporting videos, and playing games. We evaluate whether a newer version of a particular phone includes enough features to make it worth upgrading from older models.
Read further: How we test phones
