Camera megapixel count: When it comes to image quality, megapixels are largely irrelevant, as we've seen than with an 8-megapixel camera. If you'll mostly be viewing your photos on your phone, sharing them via e-mail and MMS, occasionally uploading them to Facebook, and overlaying image effects such as the ones you'll find on Instagram and Hipstamatic, a 12-megapixel camera is overkill in both resolution and file size. That said, looking for a phone with at least a 3-megapixel camera is a good idea, just to have a little more flexibility with your images--especially if you plan on using your phone as your primary camera. Related:

Processor speed: We've heard a lot of buzz about phones that use dual-core processors, but such power is really not necessary for the average user. Unless you're doing a lot of app multitasking or playing games with 3D graphics, you'll probably be fine with a 1GHz processor. Aside from the processor speed, other factors--such as the version of software your phone is running (Android 2.3 is faster than Android 2.2) and the speed of your network--contribute to speedy, fluid phone performance. Related:

Display size/resolution: If you intend to surf the Web on your phone, use the calendar and organizer, or compose and read a lot of e-mail and text messages, make sure the screen is up to snuff. Is it big enough for you to take full advantage of the phone's features? For browsing the Web or editing office documents, a screen that measures less than 2.7 inches diagonally will feel very cramped.

Consider the screen's resolution, too. The higher the resolution, the sharper your videos and photos will look. Also factor in what kind of screen technology it uses. AMOLED displays perform well in sunlight, but many people think they make colors look oversaturated. qHD displays (whose resolution is one-quarter of a full-HD 1080p frame and three-quarters of a 720p frame) generally look the best in video playback and games.