Best Smartphones 2026: The Top Phones We’ve Tested

The Galaxy S26 Ultra wins because it has the fewest compromises on this page. It was also our pick for the best Android phones. It lasted 23 hours and 45 minutes in our battery test, longer than any other non-folding phone on this page, including the Pixel 11 Pro. It’s still the only phone you can buy with a built-in S Pen. The Pixel 11 Pro takes better photos, and the iPhone 18 Pro Max is the better iPhone, but neither does this many things this well. I called it a jack-of-all-trades in my Galaxy S26 Ultra review, and that’s why it also tops our list of the best Samsung phones. You’ll want to check out Galaxy S26 Ultra cases and the Galaxy S26 series.

• Battery life (our video loop test): 23 hrs, 45 mins
• Charge time (1% to 100%): 45 mins
• Geekbench 6 single-core / multi-core: 3,675 / 11,241
• AnTuTu: 3,824,993
• 3DMark Wild Life Extreme stress test, best loop / stability: 7,115 / 57%
• Temperature after stress test: 102.9°F

The battery is very impressive and the best of any non-folding phone on this page. I used it all day at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, roaming on 5G, running Google Maps and shooting booth after booth, and I usually ended the day around 30%. On normal days at home, I got a day and a half to two days. That’s a 5,000mAh battery beating phones with far bigger cells.

I didn’t expect to use Privacy Display as much as I did. On the flights to Barcelona and on the MWC show floor, I flipped it on with a double-press of the side key, and nobody next to me could read my screen. The trade-off is real, though: a gray tint, a slightly dimmer panel and no anti-reflective layer, so I don’t leave it on all day.

It also stays cool. After our stress test it read 102.9°F, cooler than the Galaxy S25 Ultra, and it held its performance better while doing it. Photo Assist edits rendered faster than they did on last year’s phone.

The cameras are the biggest improvement, even with similar hardware. Samsung finally fixed its oversaturated colors. The one real loss is telemacro: the new 5x periscope can’t focus up close anymore.

Charging is simple too. It uses USB-C PD PPS, so any 60W PPS charger works. You’ll want a 5A cable for full speed, but the 3A cable in the box was less than 10 minutes slower in my testing.

The Galaxy S26 series flagship is cross-shopped against two phones. The Pixel 11 Pro costs $300 less, has a better camera, and sits flat on a table thanks to its camera bar. But the S26 Ultra scored almost double on AnTuTu and plays games the Pixel’s GPU struggles with. Pick the Pixel if photos come first. Pick the Galaxy S26 Ultra for everything else.

The Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra lasted longer in our battery test, but it costs $700 more and doesn’t have the S Pen.

The iPhone 18 Pro Max is the tougher matchup. If you live in iMessage and FaceTime with family, stay on the iPhone. If you’re not locked in, the Galaxy S26 Ultra offers the S Pen, a Privacy Display, and seven years of updates, and that’s the phone I’d tell an Android-curious iPhone owner to try first. It’s also the top pick in our guide to the best Android phones and the one I’d start with among Samsung’s best phones.

On paper, this looked like the smallest Ultra upgrade in years. Then I carried it through a week of Unpacked and MWC, and I kept grabbing it even with others in my bag. The rounded corners make it far more comfortable than the Galaxy S25 Ultra. My one gripe with One UI 8.5 is that it puts AI in your face and keeps resurfacing suggestions whether you want them or not. If I want to use AI, I’ll do it; I don’t need these suggestions all the time. If you’re on a Galaxy S23 Ultra or older, buy it. If you’re on a Galaxy S24 Ultra or Galaxy S25 Ultra, wait for a deal or a strong trade-in offer.

• Released: March 2026
• Dimensions: 163.6 x 78.1 x 7.9 mm (6.44 x 3.07 x 0.31 in)
• Weight: 214 g (7.55 oz)
• Display: 6.9″ Dynamic AMOLED, 3120×1440 resolution, 1-120Hz adaptive, 8-bit with FRC, Privacy Display
• Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy
• RAM: 12GB or 16GB (LPDDR5X)
• Storage: 256GB / 512GB / 1TB, no microSD card slot
• Main Camera: 200MP, f/1.4, 1/1.3″ sensor, 0.6µm, PDAF, OIS
• Ultrawide: 50MP, f/1.9, 120˚, 1/2.5″ sensor, Dual Pixel PDAF
• Telephoto: 10MP, 3x optical zoom, f/2.4, 1/3.94″ sensor, PDAF, OIS
• Telephoto (Periscope): 50MP, 5x optical zoom, f/2.9, 1/2.52″ ALoP sensor, PDAF, OIS
• Front Camera: 12MP, f/2.2, 1/3.2″ sensor, Dual Pixel PDAF
• Video: Up to 8K at 30fps, APV and LOG recording, Horizon Lock with Super Steady 2.0
• Battery: 5,000mAh
• Wired Charging: 60W wired charging (USB-C PD PPS), charger and 5A cable not included
• Wireless Charging: 25W wireless charging
• Build: Armor Aluminum frame, IP68
• Software: Android 16 with One UI 8.5
• Connectivity: 5G, LTE, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4
• Notable Extras: Built-in S Pen, Privacy Display, Now Nudge, Galaxy AI
• Colors: Black, Cobalt Violet, Sky Blue, White
• Years of Updates: 7 years of OS and security updates (through 2033)
• Launch MSRP: $1,299.99

You’re on a Galaxy S23 Ultra or older, you want the S Pen, or you want the longest battery life you can get without a foldable.

You want the best Android camera (get the Pixel 11 Pro), or you can’t live with the gray tint and loss of the anti-reflective coating that come with Privacy Display.

The iPhone 18 Pro Max is the best iPhone because of its bigger screen and battery. I tested the iPhone 18 Pro as my daily phone, and the Pro Max shares its A20 Pro chip, cameras, and 12GB of RAM, with a 6.9-inch screen and a battery about 30% bigger. It loses to the Galaxy S26 Ultra on updates, but the two are close on camera and software, so it really comes down to which experience you prefer. If you’re staying on iOS, nothing Apple sells right now beats it. Our guide to the best iPhones breaks down the rest of the lineup, and our best iPhone 18 Pro Max cases will keep it protected.

We haven’t tested the iPhone 18 Pro Max. Nobody here has used one yet, so there are no battery or charging results for it on this page.

I haven’t used the iPhone 18 Pro Max myself. I tested the iPhone 18 Pro as my daily phone, and the two share the same A20 Pro chip, the same three 48MP cameras and 12GB of RAM, so most of what I found on the Pro applies here.

The A20 Pro was the upgrade I noticed first on the Pro. It ran fast and stayed cool, and I recorded 4K video outdoors in late-summer heat without it getting too hot to hold. It also topped our 3DMark loop test on this page.

What the Pro Max adds is size. The screen is 6.9 inches against the Pro’s 6.3, and the battery is 5,567mAh against 4,288mAh, about 30% bigger. Nobody here has measured how long it lasts, so I can’t give you a number. Apple rates both at 50% in about 15 minutes with a 60W adapter. The trade-off is weight: at 249g, it’s 38g heavier than the Pro, and the heaviest iPhone yet.

The two phones people cross-shop it against are the Galaxy S26 Ultra and the Pixel 11 Pro. The Galaxy S26 Ultra costs $100 more and adds the S Pen, Privacy Display and seven years of updates, and at 214g it’s 35g lighter. The Pixel 11 Pro costs $200 less, has the best camera on this page and a true 5x periscope, and gets seven years of updates too. Neither one can match Apple’s ecosystem, though. If iMessage, FaceTime, and an Apple Watch run your life, stay with the iPhone 18 Pro Max. If they don’t, the S26 Ultra is the better phone.

The other option is the iPhone 18 Pro. It’s $100 cheaper and 38g lighter, with the same A20 Pro chip and the same three cameras. You give up the 6.9-inch screen and the larger 5,567mAh battery. If you want the bigger screen and battery, get the Pro Max.

• Released: September 2026
• Dimensions: 163.4 x 78.0 x 8.75 mm (6.43 x 3.07 x 0.34 in)
• Weight: 249 g (8.78 oz)
• Display: 6.9″ Super Retina XDR OLED, 2868×1320 resolution, 460 ppi, ProMotion adaptive refresh up to 120Hz, Always-On, Dynamic Island, 1,000 nits typical, 1,600 nits HDR, 3,000 nits peak (outdoor), anti-reflective coating, Ceramic Shield 2
• Chipset: Apple A20 Pro, 6-core CPU (2 super cores, 4 efficiency cores), 7-core GPU with Neural Accelerators, dual 16-core Neural Engine, hardware-accelerated ray tracing
• RAM: 12GB
• Storage: 256GB / 512GB / 1TB / 2TB, no microSD card slot
• Main Camera: 48MP Fusion Main, variable aperture (f/1.48, f/1.8, f/2.8, f/4.0), 24mm, second-generation sensor-shift OIS, 12MP optical-quality 2x crop
• Ultrawide: 48MP Fusion Ultra Wide, f/2.2, 13mm, 120˚, 48MP macro
• Telephoto (Tetraprism): 48MP Fusion Telephoto, 4x optical zoom (100mm), f/2.8, 3D sensor-shift OIS, 12MP optical-quality 8x crop, up to 40x digital zoom
• Front Camera: 18MP Center Stage, f/1.9, autofocus
• Video: 4K Dolby Vision at up to 120fps (Fusion Main), ProRes RAW, Apple Log 2, Dual Capture
• Battery: 5,567mAh (US eSIM model, per GSMArena; Apple doesn’t list capacity)
• Wired Charging: Up to 50% in around 15 minutes with a 60W-capable adapter with Adjustable Voltage Supply, charger not included
• Wireless Charging: Up to 25W MagSafe and Qi2
• Build: Aluminum unibody, Ceramic Shield 2 front, Ceramic Shield back, IP68 (6 meters up to 30 minutes)
• Software: iOS 27
• Connectivity: 5G (sub-6 GHz and mmWave), Apple N1 chip with Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6, Thread, second-generation Ultra Wideband, NFC, USB-C (USB 3 up to 10Gb/s, DisplayPort), Emergency SOS, Messages and Find My via satellite
• SIM: Dual eSIM (two active, stores eight or more), no physical SIM tray
• Biometrics and Sensors: Face ID, LiDAR Scanner, barometer, high dynamic range gyro, high-g accelerometer, proximity sensor, dual ambient light sensors
• Audio: Stereo speakers, four studio-quality mics, no headphone jack
• Notable Extras: Action button, Camera Control, Apple Intelligence and Siri AI, Crash Detection
• In the Box: iPhone, USB-C Charge Cable (1m)
• Colors: Black, Silver, Glacier, Burgundy
• Years of Updates: No fixed update promise from Apple
• Launch MSRP: $1,299

You’re on an iPhone 16 Pro Max or older and want the biggest screen and battery Apple sells.

You’re on an iPhone 17 Pro Max, since the upgrade is mostly battery, or 249g is too heavy for you, in which case get the iPhone 18 Pro.

The Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra is the Android phone I’d hand to someone who works from their phone. It lasted 25 hours and 12 minutes in our battery test, the longest of any phone on this page, ahead of the Galaxy Z Fold 8 at 23 hours and 1 minute and the Razr Fold at 19 hours and 58 minutes. It keeps Flex Mode, which the Galaxy Z Fold 8 dropped, and its 8.0-inch inner screen gives you more room than the Fold 8’s 7.6 inches. The Razr Fold is the better all-around foldable, but for spreadsheets, split screens, and long days, the Ultra wins. More in my Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra review, and in our Samsung guide. We also have plenty of great Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra cases, and our Android guide has more options.

• Battery life (our video loop test): 25 hrs, 12 mins
• Charge time (1% to 100%): 1 hr, 1 min
• Geekbench 7 single-core / multi-core / GPU: 2,615 / 7,507 / 15,719
• AnTuTu: 3,453,998
• 3DMark Wild Life Extreme stress test, best loop / stability: 7,135 / 50.5%
• Temperature after stress test: 113.1°F

Before Unpacked, I used the Galaxy Z Fold 7 for two weeks and usually ended a six-hour screen-time day around 30%. The same kind of day on the Fold 8 Ultra ends around 40-45%. On my heaviest days, eight to nine hours of screen time, I can still kill it, but that’s a lot of work done on one charge.

The software is built for getting things done. Flex Mode turns the bottom half into a trackpad when the phone is half folded, and split screen puts two apps side by side when it’s open on the 8-inch screen. That’s the setup I actually use for writing and email on the go.

The inner screen is easier to live with outdoors. The jump to 3,000 nits and the new anti-reflective layer were noticeable the first time I used it in the sun. The beveled edge also makes it easier to open than the Fold 7.

Heat is the trade-off. In London, after a few photos and a short video, the camera area got very warm. Day to day, it never slowed down, but it heats up faster than some other foldables.

The Galaxy Z Fold 8 costs $200 less and weighs 201g, compared with the Ultra’s 215g, and it beat the Ultra in Geekbench 7. But it lacks Flex Mode, has a smaller 7.6-inch inner screen, and lasted about two hours less in our battery test. The Razr Fold has a slightly bigger 8.1-inch inner screen, 16GB of RAM standard, and much faster charging, but it ran more than five hours shorter in our battery test. If you want one foldable for everything, get the Razr Fold.

If your phone is your office, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra is the one. Our Galaxy Z Fold 8 lineup coverage includes every model, and our Samsung guide shows where it fits, and our Android guide has more options.

The Galaxy S26 Ultra costs $700 less and has better zoom with its 5x periscope, but it has no 8-inch screen for split-screen work. For other foldables we recommend, see our full list.

I keep calling this the boring Galaxy Z Fold, and for work, boring is exactly what I want: the same shape I know. It does feel more premium than the Galaxy Z Fold 7, thanks to the improved hinge and glass protection, which also makes it more durable. The camera is the letdown at this price. The camera bump is a bit thicker than the Galaxy Z Fold 7’s, even though the only camera change is the ultrawide. If you’re coming from a Fold 6 or older, or switching from another foldable, buy it. If you’re on a Fold 7, wait for a deal.

• Released: July 2026
• Dimensions: Folded: 158.4 x 72.8 x 8.9 mm (6.24 x 2.87 x 0.35 in); Unfolded: 158.4 x 143.2 x 4.1 mm (6.24 x 5.64 x 0.16 in)
• Weight: 215 g (7.58 oz)
• Display: Cover Display: 6.5″, 2520×1080 resolution, 1-120Hz adaptive; Inner Display: 8″ foldable AMOLED, 2504×2256 resolution, about 422 ppi, 1-120Hz adaptive, 3,000 nits peak brightness, anti-reflective layer, Flex Titanium
• Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy, no vapor chamber
• RAM: 12GB (16GB on the 1TB model only)
• Storage: 256GB / 512GB / 1TB, no microSD card slot
• Main Camera: 200MP, f/1.7, OIS, 85˚
• Ultrawide: 50MP, f/1.9, 120˚, 1/2.5″ sensor
• Telephoto: 10MP, 3x optical zoom, f/2.4, 36˚
• Front Cameras: 10MP, f/2.2, 100˚ (inner display); 10MP, f/2.2, 85˚ (cover display)
• Battery: 5,000mAh (silicon-carbon)
• Wired Charging: 45W wired charging, charger not included
• Wireless Charging: 20W wireless charging
• Reverse Wireless Charging: Yes, Wireless PowerShare
• Build: Beveled frame, IP48
• Software: Android 17 with One UI 9
• Connectivity: 5G, LTE, Wi-Fi 7, Wi-Fi Direct, Bluetooth 6.0
• Notable Extras: Flex Mode, Gemini app automation, Gemini Notebook
• Colors: Cream, Graphite, Violet Shadow; Green Shadow (Samsung.com exclusive)
• Years of Updates: 7 years of OS and security updates (through 2033)
• Launch MSRP: $2,099.99

You’re coming from a Galaxy Z Fold 6 or earlier, or you want the longest battery life possible in a foldable, plus Flex Mode for work.

You care about zoom photos, since the 10MP 3x telephoto is still weak, or you want the best all-around foldable, which is the Razr Fold.

The iPhone 18 Pro is the iPhone I’d hand to most people. It’s $100 cheaper than the Pro Max at $1,199, and it’s smaller and lighter, making it easier to live with every day. I tested it as my daily phone after coming from an iPhone 17 Pro Max, and the first thing I noticed was the smaller size. It’s easier to handle while still delivering great battery life (similar to last year’s iPhone 17 Pro Max). You give up some screen and some battery capacity, but the performance and experience are the same. Our iPhone guide covers every model in the lineup, and our best iPhone 18 Pro cases guide has plenty of protection options.

These are our own test results; they aren’t in a published AH review yet.

• Battery life (our video loop test): 21 hrs, 39 mins
• Charge time (1% to 100%): 59 mins
• Geekbench 7 single-core / multi-core: 3,976/11,252
• AnTuTu: 3,368,954
• 3DMark Wild Life Extreme stress test, best loop / stability: 9,059/59.4%
• Temperature after stress test: 110.2°F

The A20 Pro chip is the upgrade I noticed first. It runs fast and stays cool, and the vapor chamber helps it hold that under load. I recorded 4K video outdoors in late-summer heat, and it never got too hot to hold.

Battery life is the other big change. It’s a big step up from last year’s model, and on heavy days I got through to bedtime without reaching for a charger. If you’re coming from an iPhone 17 Pro, this is the upgrade you’ll feel most.

Charging surprised me most. Apple rates it at 50% in about 15 minutes with a 60W adapter, and a few minutes on the charger before heading out took mine from 20% to 50%. It’s still slower than the Razr Fold, which went from 1% to full in 42 minutes in our test, but for a quick top-up before I leave the house, it’s fast enough.

The two phones it’s cross-shopped against are the iPhone 18 Pro Max and the Pixel 11 Pro. The iPhone 18 Pro Max costs $100 more and offers a larger display and a bigger battery.The Pixel 11 Pro is $100 less, has the best camera on this page, and lasted 23 hours and 20 minutes in our battery test. If you’re staying on iOS and don’t need the biggest screen, buy the iPhone 18 Pro. If you’re open to Android, the Pixel 11 Pro is the better value.

The Galaxy S26 Ultra costs $200 more and lasted about two hours longer in our battery test, and it adds the S Pen and seven years of updates. But it’s a 6.9-inch phone, so you give up the one-handed size that makes the 18 Pro easy to live with. Apple doesn’t promise a set number of years of updates, so if long support matters most, that’s a point for Samsung.

I bought the iPhone 18 Pro with my own money, and I don’t regret it. It’s 22 grams lighter than the iPhone 17 Pro Max I came from, and smaller, which makes it much easier to use one-handed. The variable-aperture camera doesn’t make much difference in daily use, but the A20 Pro and battery life do. The $100 price increase does sting a bit, though. If you’re coming from an iPhone 16 Pro or older, it’s a solid upgrade. If you have an iPhone 17 Pro, skip it and save your money, unless you really want significantly better battery life.

• Released: September 2026
• Dimensions: 150.0 x 71.9 x 8.75 mm (5.91 x 2.83 x 0.34 in)
• Weight: 211 g (7.44 oz)
• Display: 6.3″ Super Retina XDR OLED, 2622×1206 resolution, 460 ppi, ProMotion adaptive refresh up to 120Hz, Always-On, Dynamic Island, 1,000 nits typical, 1,600 nits HDR, 3,000 nits peak (outdoor), anti-reflective coating, Ceramic Shield 2
• Chipset: Apple A20 Pro, 6-core CPU (2 super cores, 4 efficiency cores), 7-core GPU with Neural Accelerators, dual 16-core Neural Engine, hardware-accelerated ray tracing
• RAM: 12GB
• Storage: 256GB / 512GB / 1TB / 2TB, no microSD card slot
• Main Camera: 48MP Fusion Main, variable aperture (f/1.48, f/1.8, f/2.8, f/4.0), 24mm, second-generation sensor-shift OIS, 12MP optical-quality 2x crop
• Ultrawide: 48MP Fusion Ultra Wide, f/2.2, 13mm, 120˚, 48MP macro
• Telephoto (Tetraprism): 48MP Fusion Telephoto, 4x optical zoom (100mm), f/2.8, 3D sensor-shift OIS, 12MP optical-quality 8x crop, up to 40x digital zoom
• Front Camera: 18MP Center Stage, f/1.9, autofocus
• Video: 4K Dolby Vision at up to 120fps (Fusion Main), ProRes RAW, Apple Log 2, Dual Capture
• Battery: 4,056mAh (Global), 4,288mAh (eSIM only)
• Wired Charging: Up to 50% in around 15 minutes with a 60W-capable adapter with Adjustable Voltage Supply, charger not included
• Wireless Charging: Up to 25W MagSafe and Qi2
• Build: Aluminum unibody, Ceramic Shield 2 front, Ceramic Shield back, IP68 (6 meters up to 30 minutes)
• Software: iOS 27
• Connectivity: 5G (sub-6 GHz and mmWave), Apple C2 cellular modem, Apple N1 chip with Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6, Thread, second-generation Ultra Wideband, NFC, USB-C (USB 3 up to 10Gb/s, DisplayPort), Emergency SOS, Messages and Find My via satellite
• SIM: Dual eSIM (two active, stores eight or more), no physical SIM tray
• Biometrics and Sensors: Face ID, LiDAR Scanner, barometer, high dynamic range gyro, high-g accelerometer, proximity sensor, dual ambient light sensors
• Audio: Stereo speakers, four studio-quality mics, no headphone jack
• Notable Extras: Action button, Camera Control, Apple Intelligence and Siri AI, Crash Detection
• In the Box: iPhone, USB-C Charge Cable (1m)
• Colors: Black, Silver, Glacier, Burgundy
• Years of Updates: No fixed update promise from Apple
• Launch MSRP: $1,199

You’re on an iPhone 16 Pro or older and want Pro cameras in a phone you can use one-handed.

You’re on an iPhone 17 Pro, since the upgrade isn’t worth the price this year, or you zoom a lot, since the 8x crop gets soft. The Pixel 11 Pro has a true 5x optical periscope for $100 less.

The Pixel 11 Pro is the Android phone I’d tell most people to buy, and the one I’d pick for photos. In my Galaxy S26 Ultra review, I said to skip Samsung if you want the best Android camera, and this is that camera. It costs $300 less than the Galaxy S26 Ultra, it lasted 23 hours and 20 minutes in our battery test, and Google finally fixed the heat and modem problems in the Pixel 11 series that held back the Pixel 10 series. It loses to the S26 Ultra on raw speed and gaming, but for most people, that won’t matter. My Pixel 11 Pro review has the full story about why it’s one of our top Android Picks. If you pick one up, check out our best Google Pixel 11 Pro cases, and the best Google Pixel Phones.

• Battery life (our video loop test): 23 hrs, 20 mins
• Charge time (1% to 100%): 1 hr, 18 mins
• Geekbench 7 single-core / multi-core / GPU: 2,748 / 7,557 / 3,123
• AnTuTu: 1,992,456
• 3DMark Wild Life Extreme stress test, best loop / stability: 2,956 / 66.8%
• Temperature after stress test: 102.2°F

The battery finally holds up. With the Pixel 10 Pro XL, I was usually reaching for a charger around 5 PM. The Pixel 11 Pro gets me through a full day, and on the days it doesn’t, it’s a small top-up around 7 PM. It’s tight, but it’s a real fix. It even outlasted the bigger Pixel 11 Pro XL in our battery test (23 hrs 20 mins against 14 hrs 54 mins), so there’s no reason to size up.

The new modem is easy to overlook, but it matters. Side by side with the Pixel 10 Pro XL on the same AT&T network through US Mobile, I was getting about 10% faster speeds, and better signal means less battery drain.

The camera is still why you buy a Pixel. Colors are right up there with vivo’s ZEISS tuning, and Night Sight is now almost instant, with the light smears from older Pixels gone. The 120x Pro Zoom is fun to play with, but it still makes up text.

Gaming is the catch. Genshin Impact no longer supports the PowerVR GPU properly, and it shows. If you play demanding games, this isn’t your phone.

Against the Galaxy S26 Ultra, the Pixel wins on camera, price, and comfort, and it doesn’t rock on a table. The S26 Ultra wins on speed, nearly doubling the Pixel’s AnTuTu score, plus the S Pen and slightly longer battery life. Against the iPhone 18 Pro, the Pixel is $100 cheaper. The camera specs are similar to the iPhone 18 Pro, but the ability to turn off AI processing is a huge plus for the Pixel 11 Pro.

If you’re on Android and want the best camera and a phone that just works, buy the Pixel. The Pixel 11 lineup shares the same cameras across the Pro and Pro XL, so our Pixel buying guide awards the camera to the Pro XL. For more options, see our top Android phones. Against the Pixel 10a, the Pixel 11 Pro costs $500 more, and you get the 5x periscope, the faster Tensor G6, and PixelSnap magnetic charging.

I switched to the iPhone in 2020, and every year since I’ve asked whether the new Pixel could get me back. This is the closest Google has ever come. My eSIM almost moved over. But the PWM rate is still incredibly low at 540Hz. This matters if you get headaches from using your phone for long periods. While using it, I noticed headaches and eye strain more than with any other device I’ve reviewed recently. If you’re on a Pixel 9 Pro or older, buy it. If you’re on a Pixel 10 Pro, skip it. You’re paying $100 more for less RAM.

• Released: August 2026
• Dimensions: 152.7 x 71.9 x 8.4 mm (6.01 x 2.83 x 0.33 in)
• Weight: 204 g (7.2 oz)
• Display: 6.3″ Super Actua LTPO OLED, 1280×2856 resolution, about 495 ppi, 1-120Hz adaptive (Smooth Display), 2,400 nits HDR, 3,600 nits peak brightness, 540Hz PWM, Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 with anti-scratch shield
• Chipset: Google Tensor G6, 3nm (TSMC N3P), PowerVR GPU, Titan M3 security coprocessor, MediaTek modem
• RAM: 12GB (256GB model) or 16GB
• Storage: 256GB / 512GB / 1TB, no microSD card slot
• Main Camera: 50MP, f/1.68, 1/1.3″ sensor, Octa PD wide
• Ultrawide: 48MP, f/1.7, 123˚, 1/2.51″ sensor, Quad PDAF
• Telephoto (Periscope): 48MP, 5x optical zoom, f/2.8, 1/1.95″ sensor, Quad PDAF, up to 120x Pro Res Zoom
• Front Camera: 42MP, f/2.2, 103˚ ultrawide, Dual PDAF
• Video: 8K at 24/30fps, 4K at 24/30/60fps, 1080p at 24/30/60fps
• Battery: 4,850mAh
• Wired Charging: 30W wired charging (up to 55% in about 30 minutes), charger not included
• Wireless Charging: 25W PixelSnap wireless charging, Qi2.2 certified with built-in magnets
• Reverse Wireless Charging: Yes, Battery Share
• Build: Aluminum frame (glossy rails, matte on Obsidian), glass back, all-glass camera bar, Gorilla Glass Victus 2 front, IP68
• Software: Android 17
• Connectivity: 5G (Sub6 + mmWave on US models), Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6.0, NFC, UWB, Thread, Emergency SOS via satellite, USB Type-C
• SIM: Dual eSIM in the US (two active, stores 8 or more eSIMs), no physical SIM tray
• Biometrics and Sensors: Ultrasonic under-display fingerprint, face unlock, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer, temperature sensor
• Audio: Dual stereo speakers, no headphone jack
• Notable Extras: HiLight rear LED, Magic Capture, Gemini Intelligence, Live Translate for media, Car Crash Detection
• In the Box: Phone, USB-C to USB-C cable, SIM tool
• Colors: Canyon, Olive, Fog, Obsidian
• Years of Updates: 7 years, through August 2033
• Launch MSRP: $1,099

You want the best camera on Android, or you’re on a Pixel 9 Pro or older.

You play demanding games, since the PowerVR GPU still struggles, you need the fastest Android phone, which is the Galaxy S26 Ultra, or you’re sensitive to screen flicker, since its 540Hz PWM gave me headaches in long sessions.

The Motorola Razr Fold is the best foldable here. It costs the same $1,899.99 as the Galaxy Z Fold 8, but it has a bigger 8.1-inch inner screen, 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage standard, and 80W charging that filled it in 42 minutes in our test, compared with the Fold 8’s 1 hour and 6 minutes. It’s Motorola’s first book-style foldable, and it’s surprisingly polished for a first try. I carried it as my daily phone for almost two weeks, with my iPhone eSIM in it. The Fold 8 lasted longer in our video test, but the Razr Fold won where it counted. There’s more in my Razr Fold review and our best foldable phones guide, and it made our Android guide too.

• Battery life (our video loop test): 19 hrs, 58 mins
• Charge time (1% to 100%): 42 mins
• Geekbench 6 single-core / multi-core / GPU: 2,590 / 8,779 / 17,159
• AnTuTu: 2,892,571
• 3DMark Wild Life Extreme stress test, best loop / stability: 4,661 / 58.1%
• Temperature after stress test: 109°F
• Temperature after 10 mins of 4K60 recording: 76.2°F

Battery life is better in daily use than our test suggests. I’d unplug it around 6 AM and go to bed around 11 PM with 40% or more left. Motorola’s phones just aren’t tuned for video playback the way Samsung’s are, which is why the Fold 8 wins our loop test and loses my actual day.

It also uses USB-C PD, so almost any strong USB-C brick works, and it still pulls about 40W at 90% when most phones drop below 20W.

Both displays get extremely bright, which matters on a foldable’s plastic inner screen. The downside is glare. Indoors, they reflect more light than the competition, and outdoors it’s a challenge as well. However, that is where the added brightness comes in to combat the glare.

Motorola also supports the Moto Pen stylus, which Samsung removed from its foldable last year with the Galaxy Z Fold 7. This is really useful for those who love to take notes and draw. Moto Pen works on both displays.

The Galaxy Z Fold 8 costs the same, weighs 42g less, and lasted about three hours longer in our video test, but it has a smaller 7.6-inch screen, slower charging, and 12GB of RAM compared to the Razr’s 16GB. The Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra is $200 more and the better work phone, with the longest battery life on this page and Flex Mode. For most foldable buyers, the Razr Fold is the one to get. Pick the Ultra only if you work from your phone all day. For the rest of the lineup, see our Motorola coverage and our Motorola guide, or check where it lands in our Android phone rankings.

Against the Galaxy S26 Ultra, the Razr Fold costs $500 more and gives up IP68 water resistance, but it opens to an 8.1-inch screen. The S26 Ultra lasted almost four hours longer in our battery test, though the Razr Fold charged faster, in 42 minutes against the S26 Ultra’s 45.

For the first time in years, the Galaxy Z Fold isn’t my obvious foldable pick. It’s the Motorola Razr Fold, the foldable I’ve had a hard time putting down since it launched. While people have called the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 a “mid-range” chip, that’s not true. I barely noticed a difference between it and the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 in the OPPO Find N6. Motorola also gets a point for the hinge, since it can sit at 90 degrees and has a desktop-style view for editing Google Docs. Buy it, particularly if you’re on a Galaxy Z Fold 6 or 7 and don’t need Flex Mode. Fold 6 owners who do need Flex Mode should look at the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra. If you want a foldable for entertainment, skip it. That inner display is square and not great for watching video.

• Released: April 2026
• Dimensions: Folded: 160.1 x 73.6 x 10.1 mm (6.30 x 2.90 x 0.40 in); Unfolded: 160.1 x 144.5 x 4.7 mm (6.30 x 5.69 x 0.19 in)
• Weight: 243 g (8.57 oz)
• Display: Cover Display: 6.6″ pOLED, 21:9, 165Hz, HDR10+, 6,200 nits peak brightness, Corning Gorilla Glass Ceramic 3; Inner Display: 8.1″ 2K LTPO, 8:7.2, 120Hz, HDR10+, 6,000 nits peak brightness, Ultra Thin Glass
• Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 5
• RAM: 16GB LPDDR5X
• Storage: 512GB UFS 4.1, no microSD card slot
• Main Camera: 50MP Sony LYTIA, f/1.6, 1/1.28″ sensor, multi-directional PDAF, OIS
• Ultrawide: 50MP, f/2.0, 122˚, 1/2.76″ sensor, PDAF
• Telephoto: 50MP Sony LYTIA 600, 3x optical zoom, f/2.4, 1/1.95″ sensor, dual-pixel PDAF, OIS, up to 100x Super Zoom
• Front Cameras: 32MP (inner display); 20MP (cover display)
• Battery: 6,000mAh (silicon-carbon)
• Wired Charging: 80W TurboPower (USB-C PD)
• Wireless Charging: 50W wireless charging
• Reverse Wireless Charging: Yes, 5W
• Build: Pantone soft-touch back, IP48/IP49
• Software: Android 16 at launch
• Audio: Stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos, tuned by Bose, three microphones
• Notable Extras: Moto Pen Ultra support (sold separately, $99), Pantone Validated camera
• Colors: Blackened Blue, Lily White
• Years of Updates: 7 years of OS and security updates (through 2033)
• Launch MSRP: $1,899.99

You want the best all-around foldable, all-day battery, and fast-charging that works with almost any USB-C brick.

Glare bothers you, since the displays are noticeably more reflective than Samsung’s, or you need the longest battery and Flex Mode for work, in which case, get the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra.

The Motorola Razr Ultra 2026 is the flip Android phone I’d carry, and the 4-inch cover screen is why. It runs nearly any app, so I triage email, check Google Maps, and play games without opening it. In our battery test, it lasted 19 hours and 23 minutes, almost three hours longer than the Razr Ultra 2025, and its panels are brighter. The catch is right in my review’s headline: it’s the same phone as last year, but $200 more expensive, with weak software support. It’s still the best flip I’ve used, which is why it’s the flip pick in our best Motorola phones guide and our best Android phones guide. Full details are in my Razr Ultra 2026 review.

• Battery life (our video loop test): 19 hrs, 23 mins
• Charge time (1% to 100%): 56 mins
• Geekbench 6 single-core / multi-core / GPU: 2,788 / 8,443 / 19,253
• AnTuTu: 3,053,889
• 3DMark Wild Life Extreme stress test: Didn’t finish (overheated and crashed)
• Temperature after 1 hour of Genshin Impact: 99.7°F
• Temperature after 10 mins of 4K60 recording: 97.5°F

The cover screen does most of the work. Emails, notifications, directions, and the odd game while waiting at the airport all happen there. Live Updates on the cover screen now show things like a rideshare’s arrival without opening the phone. The inner screen is the weak spot: at 22:9 it’s tall and skinny, which is why I keep going back to the outside.

The battery holds up in the real world. I took it to Google I/O for a day in the heat and direct sun, and it got through the day easily, even as my second phone.

Charging needs a warning. A bug from last year is still here: Google’s Pixel 67W charger sent it into a bootloop instead of charging. Anker and UGREEN chargers were fine. With no charger in the box, that matters.

The camera got a legitimate upgrade this year with LOFIC on the main sensor; this helps it hold highlights and shadows in the same shot. It might be the best camera on a flip phone, but it won’t beat a flagship phone.

The Razr Fold costs $400 more and gives you a full-size inner screen, a 6,000mAh battery and 7 years of updates. If you want one phone that does everything, stretch to the Fold. If you want something that disappears in your pocket and lives on its cover screen, the Razr Ultra 2026 is the pick. Last year’s Razr Ultra 2025 is the other option: nearly the same phone, but it lasted about three hours less in our battery test. Get the 2026 model. You’ll find the rest of the Razr lineup in our Motorola phones coverage and our guide to the best Motorola phones; it’s one of our favorite Android phones, too.

The Pixel 11 Pro is $400 cheaper, lasted almost four hours longer in our battery test, and gets seven years of updates instead of three OS upgrades. It’s also IP68, compared with the Razr’s IP48. If you want a phone that folds in half, that’s the trade-off.

I come away from every Razr Ultra with the same verdict, and this one is no different. It’s the best flip phone I’ve used, and the cover screen still has me hooked. It’s not all good news: Motorola included a dedicated AI key that I rarely used. It uses Moto AI, which can then direct you to Gemini, Copilot, and Perplexity, but you can’t remap it. Fortunately, since the phone barely changed, last year’s accessories still work. But $1,499.99 is a lot for last year’s phone with a bigger battery. Motorola discounts its phones quickly, so wait for a deal.

• Released: May 2026
• Dimensions: Open: 171.48 x 73.99 x 7.19 mm (6.75 x 2.91 x 0.28 in); Closed: 88.12 x 73.99 x 15.69 mm (3.47 x 2.91 x 0.62 in)
• Weight: 199 g (7.02 oz)
• Display: Cover Display: 4″ Extreme AMOLED, 165Hz, 3,000 nits peak brightness, Corning Gorilla Glass Ceramic; Inner Display: 7″ Extreme AMOLED, 22:9, 165Hz, 5,000 nits peak brightness
• Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite
• RAM: 16GB LPDDR5X
• Storage: 512GB, no microSD card slot
• Main Camera: 50MP, f/1.8, 1/1.56″ LOFIC sensor, 2.0µm Quad Pixel, PDAF, OIS
• Ultrawide: 50MP, f/2.0, 122˚, 1/2.93″ sensor, macro
• Front Camera: 50MP, f/2.0, 1.28µm Quad Pixel
• Video: Dolby Vision recording
• Battery: 5,000mAh (silicon-carbon)
• Wired Charging: 68W wired charging (USB-C PD), charger not included
• Wireless Charging: Yes, plus reverse wireless charging
• Build: Pantone wood or Alcantara back, IP48
• Software: Android 16 with Hello UI
• Biometrics and Sensors: Fingerprint reader, proximity sensors (main and cover), ambient light sensors (main and cover), accelerometer, gyroscope, e-compass, SAR sensor, barometer
• Notable Extras: Dedicated AI key, Moto AI with Gemini, Copilot and Perplexity
• Colors: Pantone Orient Blue (Alcantara), Pantone Cocoa (wood)
• Years of Updates: 3 OS upgrades and 4 years of security updates (through 2030)
• Launch MSRP: $1,499.99

You want the best flip phone, you live on the cover screen, and you’re fine with slower, shorter software support.

You want years of fast updates, since it gets only 3 OS updates and 4 years of security patches, or you want a foldable that does everything, in which case get the Razr Fold.

The Pixel 10a and Galaxy A57 both cost about $600, but the Pixel lasted 21 hours and 21 minutes in our battery test, compared with the A57’s 16 hours and 10 minutes. It also gets seven years of updates, compared with the Galaxy A57’s six years, and its flat camera means it actually lies flat on a table. The A57 has the nicer screen and slimmer bezels, but the Pixel 10a is the better Android phone to live with. That’s the same call our Pixel 10a review and our budget guide made. Also check out our best Pixel 10a cases.

• Battery life (our video loop test): 21 hrs, 21 mins
• Charge time (1% to 100%): 1 hr, 30 mins
• Geekbench 6 single-core / multi-core / GPU: 1,707 / 4,294 / 8,754
• AnTuTu: 1,353,348
• Temperature after 3DMark Wild Life Extreme stress test: 107.7°F
• Temperature after 1 hour of Genshin Impact: 104.7°F

Battery is good, not great. In our testing, it easily made it through a normal day with about 32% left. But for a 5,100mAh battery, it should do better, and charging is slow at an hour and a half.

The new modem fixes the Pixel 9a’s worst habit. The 9a heated up on mobile data, and in our testing the 10a didn’t get noticeably warm out and about on cellular; it did have better signal, however.

Software is why you buy it. You get the same clean Pixel experience as phones twice the price, seven years of updates through 2033, and Call Screening, which filters spam calls before they ever ring through. It also gets Pixel AI features like Camera Coach and Auto Best Take, which usually show up on phones that cost hundreds more.

Everyday tasks are snappy, but in our testing, Genshin Impact and similar games needed lower graphics settings to stay smooth.

Its closest rival is the Galaxy A57, which costs the same and has a nicer display, slimmer bezels, and a lighter 179g body. It also charged faster in our test, filling in an hour and 22 minutes. But it lasted over five hours less in our battery test and gets one fewer year of updates, so the Pixel 10a wins.

The Pixel 10 is $200 more. It adds a 5x telephoto, 12GB of RAM, and a newer Tensor G5, but it lasted about an hour and a half less in our battery test. If zoom matters, the Pixel 10 is worth the jump. If it doesn’t, save the money and get the 10a.

The Pixel 11 Pro costs $500 more for a 5x periscope, PixelSnap magnetic charging, and the Tensor G6. Our Pixel 10a coverage has more, you can see where it ranks in our Pixel phone rankings, and our Android picks cover every price.

In our testing, the Pixel 10a felt more premium than its plastic back suggests, which is rare in this price range. It strongly reminds us of the matte-glass back on the Pixel 4 from 2019. Google raised it to $599 in early October, which makes it a tougher sell than last year, but nothing else we tested at this price matched it, including the Samsung Galaxy A57. Apart from the new modem, it’s essentially last year’s phone. If about $600 is your hard limit, buy it. If you’re on a Pixel 9a, skip it and save your money, because you’d be paying $599 for a better modem.

• Released: March 2026
• Dimensions: 153.9 x 73.0 x 9.0 mm (6.06 x 2.87 x 0.35 in)
• Weight: 183 g (6.46 oz)
• Display: 6.3″ Actua P-OLED, 1080×2424 resolution, about 422 ppi, 60-120Hz, 2,000 nits HBM, 3,000 nits peak brightness, Corning Gorilla Glass 7i
• Chipset: Google Tensor G4 (4nm), Titan M2 security coprocessor
• RAM: 8GB
• Storage: 128GB / 256GB, no microSD card slot
• Main Camera: 48MP, f/1.7, 25mm wide, 1/2.0″ sensor, 0.8µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS
• Ultrawide: 13MP, f/2.2, 1/3.1″ sensor, 1.12µm
• Front Camera: 13MP, f/2.2, 20mm ultrawide, 1/3.1″ sensor, 1.12µm
• Battery: 5,100mAh
• Wired Charging: 30W wired charging, charger not included
• Wireless Charging: 10W wireless charging, no built-in magnets
• Build: Satin aluminum frame, matte plastic back, flush camera with no bump, IP68
• Software: Launched with Android 16, updated to Android 17
• Connectivity: 5G, NFC, USB Type-C, Satellite SOS
• SIM: eSIM and nanoSIM
• Biometrics: Under-display fingerprint, face unlock
• Audio: Stereo speakers, no headphone jack
• Notable Extras: Call Screen, Camera Coach, Auto Best Take, Macro Focus
• Colors: Obsidian, Fog, Berry, Lavender
• Years of Updates: 7 years, through March 2033
• Launch MSRP: $499

You want clean Pixel software, seven years of updates and a great camera for about $600, and can live with slow charging.

You play demanding games or need fast charging, since it still runs last year’s Tensor G4, or you want a telephoto, in which case get the Pixel 10.

The Google Pixel 10 is still the cheapest way to get a Pixel with a telephoto camera. Last year’s base model still sells new for $799, $300 less than the Pixel 11 Pro, and lasted 19 hours and 47 minutes in our battery test. The catch is that the Pixel 10a is $200 cheaper for most of the same software, and the Pixel 11 Pro runs cooler and takes better photos.

In my Pixel 10 review, it lasted a full day and then some, though without a vapor chamber, it ran warmer than the Pixel 10 Pros. That’s something to seriously consider if you play a lot of games or use the camera often. The new 5x telephoto isn’t great, but very few phones at this price have one. It also gets 7 years of updates from release, through August 2032. If you want to compare it against the rest, here’s every Pixel we recommend, and our Android buying guide has more options. We also rounded up the best Pixel 10 cases.

If you want a Samsung phone around $600, the Galaxy A57 is the one to get. It’s the best cheaper phone Samsung makes right now, with a gorgeous Super AMOLED screen, slim bezels, a light 179g body and six years of updates. It lost Best Value to the Pixel 10a, which costs the same and lasted 21 hours and 21 minutes in our battery test against the A57’s 16 hours and 10 minutes. That’s the same verdict our budget guide reached.

In our Galaxy A57 review, it still ended normal days with about 34% left, and 45W charging filled it in an hour and 22 minutes. Genshin Impact ran at fairly high settings, just shy of a steady 60fps, though the fingerprint sensor was slow compared with other Samsung phones. If you want to spend less, see our picks for cheaper phones. For more options, there’s our Samsung buying guide and our Android recommendations.

The Galaxy Z Fold 8 is the lightest book-style foldable I’ve used, at 201g, and its new shape is the best for watching video. The 16:10 cover screen is far easier to type on, and the 4:3 inner screen barely crops a video when you zoom to fill. The Razr Fold took Best Foldable because it costs the same, has a bigger screen, charges faster, and has more RAM. The Fold 8 also drops Flex Mode, and its cameras are the weakest part.

In my Galaxy Z Fold 8 review, I forgot it was in my pocket more than once, and I unfolded it to watch YouTube more than any foldable before it. It lasted 23 hours and 1 minute in our battery test, and it runs three apps side by side without feeling cramped. The Galaxy Z Fold 8 does get 7 years of updates, through July 2033. It’s also in our Samsung phone picks and full Android list, and you can compare every foldable we’ve tested. If you grab one, we have Galaxy Z Fold 8 cases too.