4 Long-Lasting Smartphones

Don't get stuck with a fancy--but battery draining--device. Check out these handsets that are built to last.

A smartphone that lasts all day can be a life saver. While trendier phones like the iPhone 5 can last a good six hours or more, some models are rated for a full 20 hours or more, which includes heavy data usage. Here are my top picks.

1. Motorola Droid RAZR M

This brand new Android-powered phone, which works on the Verizon network, is rated to last a surprising 20 hours of normal use--checking email, browsing the Web, and even checking YouTube clips. (Some smartphones give you only the "talk time" rating for usage.) The phone still has a sharp 4.3-inch screen that uses a technology called AMOLED--so, it's bright and clear but not power hungry. One important spec: Even with the amazing battery longevity, the phone still connects to Verizon's high-speed LTE network. Turn off some of the wireless options and you'll get even better battery life.

2. Lumia 920

Keep an eye on this new Windows 8 phone, which should be available in late October. The battery life is rated at 17 hours for talk time, but 10 hours for data use. That's about four hours longer than the iPhone 5 and much better than many Android phones on the market. The main perk to this phone is the camera, which uses image stabilization techniques, shoots in low light, and can even take multiple shots in succession. The Windows 8 tile interface is also easier to use.

3. Samsung Galaxy SIII

Another phone with an AMOLED display (a stunning 4.8 inches), the SIII is rated for nine hours of talk time, which is a bit less than the Lumia 920 but still higher than many Android phones. But it also has some rather unique battery-saving features. For one, the phone knows when you are looking at it. When you look away, the Smart Stay feature dims the screen automatically. Another bonus: The SIII is the "halo" phone for Samsung, which means they make extra accessories for it, like a dock for charging up.

4. Motorola ES400S

This is one of those old-school phones from a few years ago, but it has one clear advantage: It will last about 12 hours of talk time and won't break easily. Since the older Windows 6.5 operating system is on board (one that is now two versions out of date) you won't see any snazzy apps or multimedia tools. However, the phone is ruggedized for serious field use. You can drop the phone, use it on a wintry day--even spill water on the screen and expect it to keep humming along all day, without getting damaged.

Asus Memo 370T

Nvidia and Asus teased a product that may change everything. At the Nvidia press conference at the CES 2012 show the companies flashed that a quad-core, Tegra 3-based 7-inchtablet would soon be released for only $250.

The tablet in question actually turned out to be the Asus Memo 370T. An upgraded version of the 7-inch stylus-supported Memo tablet Asus debuted at CES 2011.

While the previous version ran on Honeycomb and utilized a dual-core Qualcomm 8260-1.2Ghz CPU, the 370T will ship with Ice Cream Sandwich and houses a quad-core Tegra 3. No word yet on the actual speed of the processor, though. The previously announced stylus peripheral has been dropped for the device.

The 370T comes with 1GB of RAM and at least 16GB of storage. It also sports a 1,280x800-pixel IPS screen that delivered smoothly scrolling menus. Holding it in my hands, the tablet felt and looked very similar, dimensionally, to the Acer Iconia Tab A100. The 370T even hits the typical-for-a-7-inch-tablet weight of 0.88 pound, right on the nose.

Other details include a Micro-USB port, a microSD card reader, and a Micro-HDMI port. Lastly, the tablet will feature the same great 8-megapixel camera found on the Transformer Prime.

Last year, the $200 Kindle Fire had a similar effect, by offering users a quality tablet experience that didn't necessitate taking out a second mortgage.

The existence of the 370T now demonstrates that performance doesn't necessarily require a price premium. While this is likely to have a tangible effect on tablet prices, we may see an even greater effect on the portable gaming market.

Look for the Asus Memo 370T in the second quarter of 2012.