Phone vs Smartphone

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Phone

Top 1,000 (very common) A1 noun

Smartphone

Top 3,000 (common) A2 noun

Most common: Phone

	Phone	Smartphone
Pronunciation	🇬🇧 /["/fəʊn/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/fəʊn/"]/	🇬🇧 /["/ˈsmɑːtfəʊn/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/ˈsmɑːrtfəʊn/"]/
Meaning	A device used for talking to people over long distances.	A small computer you can use to make calls and access the internet.
Example	She answered the phone as soon as it rang.	You can use your smartphone to access the internet.
Register	Neutral	Neutral
How common	Top 1,000 (very common)	Top 3,000 (common)
CEFR level	A1	A2
Part of speech	noun	noun
Collocations	cell, cellular, mobile, be on, use, call (somebody on), go, go off, ring, number, book, directory, by phone, on the phone, over the phone, cell, cellular, mobile, be on, use, call (somebody on), go, go off, ring, number, book, directory, by phone, on the phone, over the phone	latest smartphone, smartphone app, smartphone battery, advanced smartphone
Antonyms	disconnect, silence	landline phone, feature phone, rotary phone
Common mistakes	Confused with 'smartphone' — 'phone' can refer to any type of phone., Using 'phones' when referring to one device — 'phone' is already singular.	'Smartphone' is often misspelled as 'smart phone'., Some learners confuse 'smartphone' with 'cell phone' or 'mobile phone'., 'Smartphone' is sometimes incorrectly used as a plural without context.
Usage notes	Used in everyday conversations. Avoid using it in very formal writing; use 'telephone' instead. Often used in contexts related to communication.	Use 'smartphone' in both formal and informal contexts when talking about mobile technology. Avoid using it when referring to older mobile phones without internet capabilities.

See it in real clips

The Sopranos › S1 E1

But not answering the phone after dark?

Breaking Bad › S1 E2

Hello, Mr. White. Pick up the phone, man.

Breaking Bad › S1 E6

Hey, prepaid cell phone. Use it.

The Sopranos › S1 E1

But not answering the phone after dark?

Breaking Bad › S1 E2

Hello, Mr. White. Pick up the phone, man.

Phone

Sherlock › S1 E1

So it's a smartphone, it's e-mail enabled.

Smartphone

Frequently asked questions: Phone vs Smartphone

What's the difference between Phone and Smartphone?

Phone: A device used for talking to people over long distances. Smartphone: A small computer you can use to make calls and access the internet.

Which is more common: Phone and Smartphone?

Phone is the most common in everyday English.

Which is more advanced: Phone and Smartphone?

Smartphone is the highest level, at A2, on the CEFR scale.

Are Phone and Smartphone the same CEFR level?

Phone: A1, Smartphone: A2 on the CEFR scale.

What part of speech are Phone and Smartphone?

Phone: noun, Smartphone: noun.

Can you show an example of each?

Phone: She answered the phone as soon as it rang. Smartphone: You can use your smartphone to access the internet.

Can I use Phone and Smartphone interchangeably?

Not always. Phone and Smartphone are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.