Today’s cell phone has gone beyond the simple function of just making a call. You can now get high-quality photos, manage your schedule, listen to music. You can keep it small and light, or opt for “mini laptop” with a bigger keyboard and stylus. You can choose one in hot pink or sleek chrome.

But with all the different features, models, sizes, and shapes, it can be quite overwhelming to shop for a mobile phone. So how do you narrow down your choices?

Set the following criteria. First, give yourself a price limit. Then, identify the functions that are most important to you. (If you always bring your iPod, for example, then music play may not be a big a deal.) Then, check battery time and talk time (which is separate from standby time—or how long it’ll run if people don’t call you every 10 minutes). Then, depending on your lifestyle, ask if it’s hands-free (if you use it while working or driving), Internet capability (if you’re always on the go) and phone book storage capacity (crucial in jobs with a lot of networking).