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Best Phones 2026
Our editors tested and ranked the most popular smartphones across every price tier. Updated monthly.
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#1
Editor's Choice
Apple
iPhone 17
4.5
91/100
The iPhone 17 refines everything that made the 16 great — the A19 chip delivers tangible speed gains, the camera system adds a proper telephoto, and battery life is the best in a standard iPhone yet. It's the most popular phone in the US for good reason, and the best starting point for anyone in the Apple ecosystem.
Samsung's Galaxy S26 takes the formula that made the S25 a bestseller and makes it better in every measurable way. The Snapdragon 8 Elite chip is blazing fast, the camera system handles low-light better than any previous Galaxy, and seven years of software updates make this a phone you can keep for the long haul.
Google's Pixel 10 remains the camera benchmark that every other phone is measured against. The Tensor G5 handles AI-powered photo processing better than any competitor, and with pure Android and guaranteed updates through 2032, it's also the easiest long-term choice for Android users who want no bloatware.
The Galaxy Z Flip 7 is the most popular foldable phone in the US, combining compact flip-phone nostalgia with a full-featured flagship inside. The large cover screen has become genuinely useful for notifications and quick replies, and the Snapdragon 8 Elite ensures this stays fast for years.
Compare the top three phones across all key specs to see which is right for you.
Spec
iPhone 17Our Pick
Samsung Galaxy S26
Google Pixel 10
Display
6.1-inch OLED, 2556×1179, 460ppi, 120Hz ProMotion
6.2-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 2340×1080, 120Hz
6.3-inch LTPO OLED, 2424×1080, 1–120Hz
Processor
Apple A19 Bionic
Snapdragon 8 Elite
Google Tensor G5
RAM
8GB
12GB
12GB
Storage
128GB, 256GB, 512GB
128GB, 256GB
128GB, 256GB
Main Camera
48MP f/1.6 main + 12MP ultrawide + 12MP 2× telephoto
50MP f/1.8 main + 12MP ultrawide + 10MP 3× telephoto
50MP f/1.68 main + 48MP ultrawide + 48MP 5× telephoto
Battery
3,279mAh, 27W wired, 25W MagSafe wireless
4,000mAh, 45W wired, 15W wireless
4,700mAh, 30W wired, 23W wireless
OS
iOS
Android
Android
5G
Yes
Yes
Yes
Weight
170g
167g
196g
Released
2025-09
2026-01
2025-10
MSRP
$799
$799
$799
Refurbished from
$649
$649
$619
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How We Rank Phones
Our rankings are based on publicly available sales data (IDC, Counterpoint Research, YouGov), hands-on editorial assessment, and reader feedback. We update rankings monthly as new phones launch and older models drop in price. We do not accept payment to influence rankings — affiliate links are disclosed and do not affect editorial scores.
