Best phones to buy in 2026: top smartphones tested, reviewed, and ranked by our experts

1. Apple iPhone 17

The iPhone 17 is Apple’s best all-rounder yet — and arguably the iPhone most people should buy in 2026. Despite being the entry-level iPhone, it delivers Pro-level performance without the eye-watering price or bulk. While its design hasn’t changed much, the new Ceramic Shield 2 improves scratch resistance, and the build feels as premium as ever.

The biggest win is the display. Apple’s finally upgraded the standard iPhone to a 120Hz OLED panel, matching the Pros for smoothness and adding a 1Hz always-on mode. During testing, scrolling felt far more fluid than on the iPhone 16, and brightness hit 3000 nits – clearly visible even in direct sunlight. The stereo speakers also pack a surprising punch when watching videos or gaming.

The dual 48MP camera system impresses in most conditions. In testing, macro shots showed noticeably better sharpness, and 1x photos looked rich and detailed. The lack of a telephoto lens remains the biggest gap versus the Pro models, digital zoom quickly loses quality beyond 2x, but 4K/60fps video recording and stabilisation keep it competitive.

Performance is stellar thanks to the A19 chip. Games like Assassin’s Creed ran smoothly (with only minor heating), and music production in Korg Gadget performed better than on an M1 iMac. Battery life easily lasts a day of mixed use. The main gripes? USB 2.0 speeds and iOS 26’s flawed “Liquid Glass” interface. Despite that, Apple’s ecosystem remains unmatched for creative tools and premium apps.

Why we chose it

Unless you need a telephoto lens or ultra-thin bragging rights, the iPhone 17 nails the essentials. It’s powerful, practical and, for once, a sensible choice.

• Read more: iPhone 17 review

2. Google Pixel 10

Just like the iPhone 17 above, the Google Pixel 10 makes a strong case for skipping the Pro. After an extensive review, it’s clear Google’s flagship-lite hits that sweet spot between power, design, and practicality, making it the Android phone most people should buy.

Let’s start with the build. The satin-finish metal frame and glossy glass back strike the perfect balance of grip and polish. It feels better in hand than the Pro, and the flatter camera bar keeps it steady on a desk (a small but genuinely useful detail). The new Indigo colour of our review unit pops beautifully, and the whole design feels more refined without losing Pixel character.

The 6.3in Actua OLED screen is another highlight. At 3000 nits, it’s blisteringly bright outdoors, with 120Hz smoothness and rich HDR contrast that makes games like Subnautica and binge-watching Wednesday look top-tier. The stereo speakers are punchy too – loud enough to fill a room without that tinny edge you sometimes get on thinner phones.

Performance from the Tensor G5 chip is effortless. Everything runs fast and fluid, from multitasking to AI-powered tools like Magic Cue and Gemini’s smarter on-device help. Yes, benchmark hunters will find Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 phones that score higher, but in the real world, this thing is absolutely great.

Cameras are the real surprise. The Pixel 10 finally gets a 5x telephoto alongside wide and ultrawide lenses, making it a true triple-threat. Shots are sharp, vibrant, and consistent across all lenses, while AI tools like Auto Best Take genuinely save ruined group photos. Even the macro mode impressed; it’s great fun for texture shots and close-ups.

Battery life easily stretches through a day, and 30W wired charging plus 15W PixelSnap wireless top-ups keep it convenient. The only real gripe is 128GB base storage – it’s 2026, and that’s stingy. Otherwise, this is the Pixel to buy.

Why we chose it

You get nearly all the Pro’s capability for hundreds less, wrapped in a design that feels just as premium.

• Read more: Google Pixel 10 review

3. Nothing Phone 4a

Nothing has once again reimagined its signature feature – the Glyph LED – for its latest affordable smartphone generation. The Phone 4a ditches scattergun LEDs for a neater stacked bar, which sits alongside an upgraded rear camera trio. A periscope telephoto lens capable of 3.5x optical zoom instantly gives this handset an advantage over budget rivals that make do with 2x zoom – or no zoom at all.

A new Gen4 version of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 7s chipset brings respectable levels of power, with a choice of 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, or 12GB and 256GB if you want to spend a little extra. It copes just fine with Play Store games, albeit at lower detail settings than a pricier handset can deliver. The battery capacity hasn’t changed but efficiency tweaks mean this is still an all-day phone, with 50W wired charging being faster than anything Google or Samsung offers for similar money.

Nothing’s take on Android is a big part of Phone 4a’s appeal: the minimal styling is slick and there’s no shortage of useful widgets to customise the home and lock screens with. It has a few useful AI-accelerated features but doesn’t overwhelm you like some rivals, and there’s essentially no bloatware. It’s a fantastic all-rounder for not very much money.

Why we chose it

It’s cheaper than a Pixel 10a (which is barely changed from its predecessor) yet has it beat in a few key areas. The Nothing Phone 4a has more distinctive styling, an equally long-lasting battery, and a more versatile rear camera setup. Things aren’t as clear-cut for US shoppers, with the Phone 4a not officially available there; a good carrier contract deal could make the Google Pixel 10a a better bet after all.

• Read more: Nothing Phone 4a review

4. OnePlus 15

After fully testing it for a couple of weeks, it’s clear OnePlus isn’t the underdog anymore. This is a confident, full-fat flagship that delivers on almost every front – and does it for less money than its biggest rivals. The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip makes it feel ridiculously quick, even by 2026 standards, and the 7300mAh battery easily lasts two full days in real-world use. We ran our usual benchmarks, streamed HDR video, gamed, took hundreds of photos, and still struggled to drain it in a day.

The Sand Storm finish looks and feels fantastic, with a textured frame that’s more distinctive and durable than the usual glass slabs. The phone’s IP69K water resistance might be overkill, but it’s nice knowing it can take a soaking. The screen is another highlight – a 6.78in AMOLED that’s bright, sharp and wonderfully smooth, thanks to its 165Hz adaptive refresh rate. We only really noticed the difference in a handful of games, but everything else, from scrolling to swapping between apps, felt slick.

Cameras remain a strong point. The three 50MP lenses – wide, telephoto and ultrawide – all produce crisp, colourful shots with reliable exposure and great detail. We preferred the 3.5x zoom lens for portraits and close-ups, but the main camera handles almost everything with ease. Low-light performance can’t quite match the best from Samsung or Oppo, but it’s still more than good enough for most people.

Software has come a long way, too. OxygenOS 16 feels clean, fast and refreshingly light on bloatware. Mind Space and the new AI tools feel genuinely useful rather than gimmicky, and the promise of six years of updates is reassuring. Add in lightning-fast 120W charging, great design and bulletproof performance, and you’ve got one of the best Android phones of the year.

Why we chose it

The new battery life benchmark is also a performance monster, with oodles of style, a gorgeous screen, and straightforward software. The OnePlus 15 also packs in some very capable cameras. Unless you’re wedded to Samsung or Google, it’s the Android of the moment.

• Read more: OnePlus 15 review

5. iPhone 17 Pro Max

If you want the top-tier iPhone experience, the iPhone 17 Pro is the one to beat. It’s lightning-fast, takes outstanding photos, and its display is nothing short of gorgeous – though it doesn’t come cheap.

After spending time with the iPhone 17 Pro Max, there’s no doubt it’s every bit as powerful as Apple claims. Performance is jaw-dropping – in Geekbench 6, its single-core results were on par with the Mac Studio’s M3 Ultra chip. The new vapour chamber cooling keeps heat under control during gaming and high-zoom video recording, while the 4823mAh battery comfortably lasts close to two working days. A 40W charger refilled it to 50% in around 20 minutes.

The 6.9in OLED panel is a stunner, hitting a dazzling 3000nits outdoors – bright enough to stay clear even in direct sunlight. The refreshed “plateau” camera design stands out visually, and the updated 48MP triple-lens system produces sharp, detailed shots. Even at 8x optical zoom, images stay clean, and the 40x digital zoom easily outperforms the iPhone 16 Pro’s efforts.

The switch from titanium to aluminium won’t please everyone – ours picked up a tiny dent after a few days – but it still feels solid in the hand. iOS 26’s new Liquid Glass interface might split opinion, yet it looks stunning on such a large, vivid display.

Why we chose it

If you want the most capable iPhone Apple makes, this is the one.

• Read more: iPhone 17 Pro Max review

6. Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra

Samsung once again focuses on refinement, rather than reinventing its long-running flagship. The Galaxy S26 Ultra does debut some world-first display tech that’s genuinely innovative, and its performance is second to none. It iterates a familiar design to near-perfection, with skinnier bezels and less weight (even if it did require a return to aluminium from the S25 Ultra’s titanium) – and the S Pen hasn’t gone anywhere.

The 6.9in AMOLED screen may not be the brightest on the market, but its trump card is Privacy Display – a hardware filter that can narrow viewing angles at the press of a button, keeping your private information safe from shoulder snoopers. Samsung has also upgraded two of the four rear cameras with wider apertures for better low light performance, and brought a ‘For Galaxy’ version of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 silicon for good measure.

OneUI might be trying a little too hard to push AI innovation – the Now Nudge feature really didn’t prove helpful at all during my testing – but there’s no question it’s as fully featured a take on Android as you’ll find, with a strong ecosystem of supporting products like wearables, earbuds, tablets and laptops.

Battery life is a weak link now, and it’s true there are better cameraphones if you’re willing to shop outside the Samsung bubble. But the S26 Ultra otherwise excels as a long-term upgrade for Samsung fans.

Why we chose it

There’s safety in sticking with what you know, and with Samsung’s Western popularity under no real threat from the Chinese competition, this becomes the de facto choice for most Android power users.

• Read more: Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra review

7. Xiaomi 17 Ultra

Xiaomi has been knocking it out of the park for multiple generations of Ultra flagship, thanks in part to a strong partnership with imaging experts Leica. The 17 Ultra is the best of the breed, with an incredibly potent 200MP telephoto zoom lens that uses a variable aperture to cover a wide optical zoom range. Combined with one of the phone world’s only 1.0-in main sensors, there’s no denying this is the best phone out there for serious photographers. The Leica-badged Leitzphone goes even further with a mechanical aperture ring around the huge rear camera island, adding a physical way to adjust zoom strength.

The rest of the phone is just as uncompromising, with a Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset delivering epic performance, a 6000mAh battery that can manage a day and a half between charges, and a gorgeous AMOLED display. Xiaomi has also slimmed down the dimensions and trimmed a few grams to make the 6.9in slab a bit more manageable.

It’s a mighty expensive handset, and not everyone will gel with HyperOS – but Xiaomi’s Android skin at least doesn’t overdose on AI like some rivals.

Why we chose it

There are a handful of Ultra-badged rivals from other Chinese brands that punch just as hard on the photography front, but none are as widely sold as the Xiaomi. The 17 Ultra’s huge 1in sensor and Leica-backed image processing are also hard to beat for sheer quality.

• Read more: Xiaomi 17 Ultra review

8. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7

That the Galaxy Z Fold 7 arrived as unbelievably thin as it did was honestly a bit of a shock. We were used to Samsung phoning it in a bit with each successive generation, but this Fold feels entirely new, being just 4.2mm when unfolded and rocking a larger, more sensibly proportioned outer display. It feels like a traditional smartphone, until you unfurl it and see the giant 8in display lurking inside.

Performance is top-tier, courtesy of a Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy chipset, and the software is much improved too. It arrives running Android 16, which brings some welcome boosts to multitasking, and all the AI-assisted apps continue to get smarter as well. A 200MP rear camera inherited from the Galaxy S25 Ultra is the icing on the cake.

Chinese brands were beginning to dominate the foldable space, leaving the rest of the world to look on with jealousy. That’s not the case anymore. Samsung is back at its best here.

• Read more: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 review

Want more folding phone suggestions? Check out Stuff’s guide to the best folding smartphones.