The best phones 2024 tested and rated

We test and review dozens of phones each year with one mission in mind: to help you buy the best phone for your needs. And with great options from Apple, Samsung, Google and other brands, there are plenty of handsets worthy of your attention.

We're well-positioned to pick the best phone based on a variety of criteria. We spend a lot time in our lab and in the real world testing the top handsets so that we can compare the leading contenders side by side. And we have some expert recommendations on which models rise to the top.

The very best phones offer great cameras, enough performance to easily multitask or play intensive games and the kind of battery life to last the whole day. We test each one of those things for every smartphone we review — and we also evaluate software, display quality and phone design. All of these criteria can separate a great phone from the rest of the pack.

Our best phone rankings are due a refresh now that Samsung has unveiled its Galaxy S24 series, which should benefit from new AI features as well as hardware improvements like brighter screens and — for the Galaxy S24 Ultra at least — a higher resolution telephoto lens.

We should finish our Galaxy S24 testing soon, but if you're looking to upgrade your phone now, these are the very best phones you can buy. 

Written by
Philip Michaels
Written by
Philip Michaels

Philip Michaels is the managing editor for mobile at Tom's Guide. He's been covering technology for more than 20 years and writing about smartphones since Steve Jobs showed off the original iPhone back in 2007. He's worked at Tom's Guide since 2015, and visitors to his Northern California home are wowed by the stacks of phones he keeps handy for head-to-head testing.

The quick list

The best phone overall

The best phone overall

Specifications

Display: 6.7-inch OLED (2796x1290; 1-120Hz)
CPU: A17 Pro
RAM: 8GB
Storage / Expandable: 256GB, 512GB, 1TB / No
Rear camera: 48MP wide (f/1.78), 12MP ultra wide (ƒ/2.2), 12MP telephoto (5x zoom; f/2.8)
Front camera: 12MP (ƒ/1.9)
Weight: 7.8 oz
Battery life (Hrs:Mins): 14:02

Reasons to buy

+
Light and strong titanium frame
+
5x zoom power
+
Action button customization
+
Amazing performance
+
Lengthy battery life

Reasons to avoid

-
Price increase over iPhone 14 Pro Max
-
Slow charging speeds
-
Action button could be more 
Buy it if

✅ You want Apple's best iPhone: The iPhone 15 Pro Max offers all of Apple's latest and greatest technology, including a mighty 3nm chipset and a 5x telephoto camera that the iPhone 15 Pro doesn't receive.

✅ You value good design: Quite a lot has changed from previous Pro iPhones. The side rails are now made of a titanium alloy, the display bezels have been thinned, and a customizable Action button has replaced the simple mute switch

✅ You value a long-lasting phone: This is one efficient phone, holding out for more than 14 hours on our battery test.

Don't buy it if:

❌ You're on a budget: It may be Apple's best phone, but at $1,199, the iPhone 15 Pro Max also costs the most. Save $200 by getting the iPhone 15 Pro instead.

❌ You prefer compact devices: That 6.7-inch display requires a 6.29 x 3.02 x 0.32 frame to house it. The iPhone 15 Pro Max does not fit easily into a pocket.

❌ You want a phone that charges quickly: Apple's moved to USB-C charging, but the speed still caps out at a mere 27W. Android phones charge much more quickly.

The bottom line

📱 The iPhone 15 Pro Max is ahead of the pack when it comes to its design, photography and performance. There are small areas where it could be further refined, like its charging speed or digital zoom photography. And it's still very expensive of course. But it's still a remarkable device worthy of upgrading to. ★★★★

What you need to know
The iPhone 15 Pro Max is the best iPhone we’ve tested, and that’s because it has everything you could want in a flagship. The design has been made lighter and more premium with titanium sides, the chipset's more powerful than ever, and so's the camera array. Apple has roared back to capture the spor for best phone with the iPhone 15 Pro Max, a mobile device that delivers on all fronts.

Cameras: iPhones live and die by their cameras, and the telephoto lens on the iPhone 15 Pro Max is a big improvement thanks to its 5x zoom capabilities. Its low-light performance is pretty spectacular too. That said, it’s still no match for the Galaxy S23 Ultra when it comes to getting close to a subject.

Performance: Though Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip helped some Android phones narrow the performance gap with the iPhone 14 Pro, the A17 Pro chipset powering the iPhone 15 Pro Max is the fastest mobile chip we've tested. You'll notice the extra oomph when you're performing everyday tasks and switching between apps.

Battery life: The battery on the iPhone 15 Pro Max lasts more than 14 hours on our battery test, an outstanding improvement over the already long-lasting iPhone 14 Pro Max. If only the phone could charge quickly, as Apple continues to offer only 27W wired charging and 15W wireless charging.

Value for money: While this model costs $100 more than the starting price of the iPhone 14 Pro Max, Apple has increased the amount of base storage to 256GB. The iPhone 15 Pro offers almost all the same features, but in a smaller body and for a lower starting price. And if it's a big screen you're after, there's the iPhone 15 Plus to consider too.

Read the full review: iPhone 15 Pro Max

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iPhone 15 Pro Max test results
AttributesNotesRating
PriceThis iPhone costs a pretty penny★★★☆☆
CamerasA great main camera but so-so zooms★★★★☆
PerformanceYou won't find a better performing phone★★★★★
Battery lifeDon't worry about running out power ★★★★★

The best Samsung phone

The best Samsung phone you can buy right now

Specifications

Display: 6.8-inch OLED (3200x1400; 1-120Hz)
CPU: Snapdragon 8 Gen 2
RAM: 8GB, 12GB
Storage / Expandable: 256GB, 512GB, 1TB / No
Rear camera: 200MP wide (f/1.7), 12MP ultra wide (ƒ/2.2), 10MP telephoto (3x zoom, f/2.4), 10MP telephoto (10x zoom, f/4.9)
Front camera: 12MP (ƒ/2.2)
Weight: 8.2 oz
Battery life (Hrs:Mins): 13:09

Reasons to buy

+
Powerful 200MP camera
+
Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip beats iPhone on graphics
+
Excellent battery life

Reasons to avoid

-
Very expensive
-
Curved screen can make typing difficult
Buy it if

✅ You want the best performing Android phone: The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy powers the Galaxy S23 Ultra and delivers outstanding performance. It even beat the A16 Bionic inside the iPhone 14 Pro models on graphics in our testing.

✅ You value mobile photography above all else: With a 200MP main camera and a pair of telephoto lenses supporting a 100x Space Zoom feature, the Galaxy S23 Ultra's cameras provide power and flexibility.

✅ You like to use a stylus: Not only does the Galaxy S23 Ultra come with an S Pen, but the phone includes a slot for storing Samsung's stylus. It's a great tool if you like scribbling notes or sketching on your phone.

Don't buy it if:

❌ You're on a budget: With a starting price of $1,199 — $100 more than the most expensive iPhone — the Galaxy S23 Ultra does not come cheap. You'll pay even more for expanded storage.

❌ You dislike curved screens: The curved edges of the Galaxy S23 Ultra display can make it difficult to select items that are on the very edge of the screen. Look for a phone with a flat panel instead.

❌ You want the fastest charging phone: The 45W charging speed on the Galaxy S23 Ultra isn't slow, but other Android phone makers — particularly OnePlus — offer faster wired charging.

The bottom line

📱 The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is the ultimate smartphone, thanks to stellar cameras highlighted by the 200MP main sensor and other photography improvements. The Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 delivers outstanding performance and extended battery life. We're also impressed by Samsung's One UI software. ★★★★

What you need to know
Samsung's premium phone impressed us throughout 2023, but now it's the Galaxy S24's turn to shine. Based on our Galaxy S24 Ultra hands-on time, we're expecting the new phone to improve upon its predecessor in most ways; we'll see if testing reflects that. In the meantime, here's what we thought of the S23 Ultra.

Cameras: By far, the most significant addition to the the Galaxy S23 Ultra is its 200MP camera, which gives you greater flexibility in capturing shots, as you can shoot at full resolution and crop in for more detail or combine multiple pixels into one for brighter images. The powerful telephoto lens setup returns, putting the S23 Ultra ahead of other phones when it comes to zoom. Samsung has also improved low-light photo features, though other phones continue to beat the S23 Ultra in that area.

Performance: The iPhone remains the overall performance champ, but the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 powering the Galaxy S23 Ultra closed the gap significantly (at least until the A17 Pro came along). Samsung's phone even managed to best the iPhone on some graphics tests. This is the best performing Android phone we've tested.

Battery life: It's not just performance that benefits from the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. The chipset's improved power efficiency helps the Galaxy S23 Ultra last a long time on a charge — nearly 12.5 hours on our battery test. That's not as long as the iPhone 14 Pro Max, but it's still an outstanding time that translates to all-day battery life and then some.

Value for money: If there's one thing about the Galaxy S23 Ultra that should give you pause, it's the phone's price tag. At $1,199, this is one of the more expensive handsets out there. Certainly, the premium features Samsung packs into the phone justify the high cost, but you can find less expensive models — including other phones in the S23 family.

Read the full review: Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra

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Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra test results
AttributesNotesRating
PriceOne of the pricier phones available★★★☆☆
CamerasThe best camera phone you can buy★★★★★
PerformanceA top-performing Android device★★★★☆
Battery lifeLasts all day, charging could be faster★★★★☆

The best value Android phone

The best phone value right now

Specifications

Display: 6.1-inch OLED (2400 x 1080; 90Hz)
CPU: Tensor G2
RAM: 8GB
Storage / Expandable: 128GB / No
Rear camera: 64MP wide (f/1.89), 13MP ultrawide (f/2.2)
Front camera: 13MP (f/2.2)
Weight: 6.8 ounces
Battery life (Hrs:Mins): 10:05 (60Hz)

Reasons to buy

+
Faster refresh rate on bright display
+
Excellent Tensor G2-powered features
+
Main camera offers more megapixels than before

Reasons to avoid

-
Colors in photos skew toward darker tones
-
Phone gets warm when playing demanding games
Buy it if

✅ You don't want to pay more than $500: Whether you're limited by your budget or you think flagship prices are too high, the Pixel 7a costs less than $500, even after a price hike from the Pixel 6a. But you get premium features in return.

✅ You want excellent cameras for the money: The Pixel 7a takes photos that beat more expensive phones with the help of Google's AI-assisted image processing. And upgraded camera hardware helps capture more detail in low light.

✅ You want the power of Tensor: TheTensor G2 chip powers even more AI-driven features than before. All of the Pixel 7's capabilities are here on this cheaper phone.

Don't buy it if:

❌ You prefer premium phones: Google had to cut corners somewhere; as a result, the Pixel 7a isn't as durable as Google's flagships.

❌ You want expandable storage: The Pixel 7a offers 128GB of on-board capacity with no way to expand that. In contrast, the cheaper Galaxy A54 has a microSD slot of added storage.

❌ You want to keep this phone for a while: Google's three years of Android OS updates for the Pixel 7a is good. But Samsung offers four years, even for its midrange models.

The bottom line

📱 The Pixel 7a is like its predecessor — its main appeal lies in the excellent photos this affordable phone takes. But the addition of premium features like a fast-refreshing display make this phone more attractive than before. ★★★★

What you need to know
The Google Pixel 7a continues Google's tradition of producing very capable midrange phones that excel at mobile photography. This time, though, the Pixel 7a offers premium features like a fast-refreshing display, normally found in pricier handsets.

Cameras: Google has gone big with the Pixel 7a cameras, turning to a 64MP sensor that's physically larger than the 12.2MP shooter in the Pixel 6a. That means sharper images than before, though the colors in Pixel 7a photos continue to have dark, cooler tones. Still, the Pixel 7a excels at low-light photos, and it holds its own against any camera phone.

Performance: The Pixel 7a's Tensor G2 silicon matches what the Pixel 7 offered. And while raw power ins't the story with Google's Tensor chips, the Pixel 7a's Tensor G2 does outperform the Exynos 1380 inside the Galaxy A54 on all benchmarks. Instead, this Tensor chip focuses on AI-powered features, and you'll find those in abundance, including support for Google's Photo Unblur feature, call management tools and on-the-fly dictation. 

Battery life: The Pixel 7a posts a much improved battery life from its predecessors, lasting 10 hours and 5 minutes on our battery test. That's just ahead of the average smartphone. One caveat: we got that time by turning off the display's fast-refresh rate.

Value for money: Though Google raised the Pixel 7a's price by $50 over the Pixel 6a, this phone still costs less than $500, and you can find some premium features not often supported by midrange phones. The Pixel 7a charges wirelessly, for instance, and its 6.1-inch display can refresh at 90Hz for smoother scrolling. Few phones pack in more value while keeping their price tag relatively affordable like the Pixel 7a does.

Read the full review: Google Pixel 7a

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Google Pixel 7a test results
AttributesNotesRating
PriceEven with a price hike, it's a good value★★★★☆
CamerasThe best cameras on a sub-$500 phone★★★★☆
PerformanceTensor's value comes from AI features, not speed ★★★☆☆
Battery lifeBattery life gets a boost from the Pixel 6a★★★☆☆

The smartest camera phone

The best AI camera phone

Specifications

Display: 6.7-inch OLED (2992x1344; 1-120Hz)
CPU: Tensor G3
RAM: 12GB
Storage / Expandable: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB / No
Rear camera: 50MP wide (f/1.68), 48MP ultra wide (ƒ/1.95), 48MP telephoto (5x zoom; f/2.8)
Front camera: 10.5MP (ƒ/2.2)
Weight: 7.5 oz
Battery life (Hrs:Mins): 10:03

Reasons to buy

+
Pro camera features
+
7 years of software updates
+
Brighter display

Reasons to avoid

-
Costs more than  predecessor
-
Performance lags rival phones
Buy it if

✅ You want a smart camera: The camera hardware on the Pixel 8 Pro is impressive enough. But it's the included AI-powered features that turn decent photos into excellent shots with a few taps.

✅ You want a future-proof phone:
Google offers seven years of updates to Pixel 8 Pro owners — that includes both Android updates as well as security patches.

✅ You want a bright display: Past Pixels have taken knocks for dim screens, but that's not an issue with the Pixel 8 Pro's Super Actua display. We measured brightness at 1,526 nits.

Don't buy it if:

❌ You want blazing performance: The Tensor G3 chipset powering the Pixel 8 Pro excels at AI, but in speed testing, the Pixel still lags behind phones like the Galaxy S23 Ultra and iPhone 15 Pro Max.

❌ You want a long-lasting device: The Pixel 8 Pro lasts longer than its predecessor on our battery test. But that only means it delivers average battery life at best.

❌ You want to pay less for your phone: The $100 price hike to the Pixel 8 Pro means the $999 device now costs as much as an iPhone 15 Pro and Galaxy S23 Plus.

The bottom line

📱 The Google Pixel 8 Pro is a great alternative to top Android phones, especially if you are looking for a top performing camera phone. In addition to beefed up photo processing tools, the Tensor G3 chipset inside the Pixel 8 Pro delivers a smarter assistant that can manage your phone calls, fix your grammar and summarize web pages. ★★★★

What you need to know
The Pixel 8 Pro shows off the power of artificial intelligence in a mobile device. The Google Assistant is both smarter and more human sounding and features like Magic Editor and Magic Audio Eraser impress. Though it costs more than before, it's still a standout phone.

Cameras: Every camera in the Pixel 8 Pro's rear camera array gets an upgrade, particularly the ultrawide lens which now uses a 48MP sensor. But it's the photo processing features that help this phone stand out, as Google uses AI to make your pictures look their best. We like how Best Take can improve Group Shots and how Magic Audio Eraser easily removes unwanted sounds from videos.

Performance: The Tensor G3 chip helps the Pixel 8 Pro turn in better benchmark times. But it still can't keep up with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 silicon found in other leading Android phones, let alone the A17 Pro that powers the latest iPhone Pro models.

Battery life: Google's phones don't have a great reputation for battery life, but the Pixel 8 Pro takes steps to correct that. In our test, it lasted 2 hours longer than the Pixel 7 Pro. Still, that's only an average result for smartphones. Other leading smartphones last longer on a charge.

Value for money: You'll have to pay more for the Pixel 8 Pro than you did for its predecessor, thanks toa $100 price hike. But the Pixel 8 Pro still delivers exceptional value, thanks to Google extending support for this device to seven years of software and security updates.

Read the full review: Google Pixel 8 Pro

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Pixel 8 Pro test results
AttributesNotesRating
PriceCosts $100 more than its predecessor★★★☆☆
CamerasHardware improvements plus AI features make for great photos ★★★★★
PerformanceTensor G3 lags other top chipsets but wows with AI★★★☆☆
Battery lifeOnly average results on our battery test★★★☆☆

The best value iPhone

The best bang/buck ratio in Apple phones

Specifications

Display: 6.1-inch OLED (2556x1179; 60Hz)
CPU: A16 Bionic
RAM: 6GB
Storage / Expandable: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB / No
Rear camera: 48MP wide (f/1.6) w/ 2x zoom, 12MP ultra wide (ƒ/2.4)
Front camera: 12MP (ƒ/1.9)
Weight: 6 oz
Battery life (Hrs:Mins): 11:05

Reasons to buy

+
Impressive battery life
+
Good main camera with 2x zoom
+
A16 Bionic is still strong
+
Refreshed design
+
Improved display brightness

Reasons to avoid

-
Charging remains slow
-
Still stuck with 60Hz display
Buy it if

✅ You don't want to spend too much on a new iPhone: At $800, this is the minimum you'll have to spend to get a brand-new, up-to-date iPhone. Fortunately, with its new design and colors, the iPhone 15 looks extra fresh.

✅ You want a balance of size and battery life: A 6.1 inches, the iPhone 15 is quite petite, which could have meant disaster for the battery life. Fortunately, it's very efficient, with the A16 chipset still providing excellent performance even though it's a year-old chip.

✅ You still want a few best-in-class features: Apple increased the brightness of the iPhone 15's display so it's now as bright as the Pro models. Plus it's also got its own 48MP main camera too, something non-Pro iPhones didn't have before.

Don't buy it if:

❌ You need a big screen: While some people would appreciate the iPhone 15's compact screen, that 6.1-inch screen will feel cramped if you want a lot of useable real estate. Consider getting the 6.7-inch iPhone 15 Plus instead.

❌ You want a fast-charging phone: Apple still hasn't updated the iPhone 15's 20W wired and 15W wireless charging, meaning no sub-half-hour refills like certain Android rivals can manage.

❌ You want a smooth display: The iPhone 15 is one of the only new smartphones launched this year with a 60Hz display. You won't notice the difference if you've been sticking with non-Pro iPhones, but even cheap Android devices offer 120Hz smoothness these days.

The bottom line

📱 The iPhone 15 is even better value than the iPhone 14 thanks to Apple being more generous with the upgrades this year. We love the new 48MP main camera with its 24MP photos and 2x zoom mode, the more convenient USB-C charging and still excellent performance and battery life. But Apple is short-changing its users by not offering them faster charging or display refresh rates. ★★★★

What you need to know
If you don't want to pay iPhone 15 Pro Max or Galaxy S23 Ultra prices, the iPhone 15 provides quite a lot of the same features but for several hundred dollars less. It's frustrating to see features like the display refresh rate remain the same, but this is still a great phone for all but the most demanding users.

Cameras: With the addition of a 48MP camera, Apple's unlocked a lot of photography potential in the iPhone 15. It can now take more detailed 24MP shots rather than the 12MP standard of previous iPhones. It can now also use a lossless 2x zoom mode without needing a telephoto camera too, which helps bridge the gap between itself and the Pro models.

Performance: The A16 Bionic chipset within the iPhone 15 is still potent, and still beats the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 2-powered Android phones on many benchmarks. From multitasking to graphically intense games, the iPhone 15 can handle just about anything.

Battery life: Apple's larger iPhones have more room for bigger batteries but the iPhone 15 still lasts over 11 hours on a single charge. Charging is pretty slow though, with 20W wired speeds still in place from older models.

Value for money: The $799 starting price of the iPhone 15 is still a considerable amount of money, but considering an iPhone 15 Pro starts at $999, it's still good value in Apple World.

Read the full review: iPhone 15

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iPhone 15 test results
AttributesNotesRating
PriceA lot to pay, but premium features are worth it ★★★★☆
CamerasThe 48MP main camera does a lot, but it still can't beat a Pro iPhone★★★☆☆
PerformanceNo longer Apple's best chipset, but still very powerful★★★★☆
Battery lifeA strong result, especially for a phone this size★★★★☆

The best value flagship

The most affordable Android flagship

Specifications

Display: 6.7-inch AMOLED (3216 x 1440; 1-120Hz)
CPU: Snapdragon 8 Gen 2
RAM: 8GB, 16GB
Storage: 128GB, 256GB / No
Rear cameras: 50MP (f/1.8) main, 48MP (f/2.2) ultrawide, 32MP (f/2.0) 2x telephoto
Front camera: 16MP (f/2.45)
Weight: 7.2 ounces
Battery life (Hrs:Mins): 13:10 (adaptive), 12:48 (60Hz)

Reasons to buy

+
Insanely good battery life
+
Killer starting price
+
Improved battery life

Reasons to avoid

-
No wireless charging
-
Telephoto lens only supports 2x zoom
Buy it if

✅ You want a top performing Android phone: The OnePus 11 runs on a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset. And while it's not the overclocked chipset powering the Galaxy S23, you'll still get plenty of horsepower with OnePlus' phone.

✅ You want a camera phone on the rise: Cameras used to be a weak spot with OnePlus phones, but not since the phone maker started working with Hasselblad. This latest version is the best OnePlus camera phone yet.

✅ You want the best value for your money: The stellar performance and continuing camera improvements come in a device that starts at $699 — $100 less than what you'll pay for an entry-level Galaxy S23.

Don't buy it if:

❌ You want wireless charging: To offer a lower cost phone, OnePlus gave up some features, and wireless charging support is the biggest miss.

❌ You want a powerful telephoto lens: To be fair to OnePlus, it's rare to find a telephoto lens in a phone at this price. But the 2x digital zoom is a lot weaker than what most rivals offer.

❌ You need a waterproof phone: The OnePlus 11 has an IP64 rating, which means it can stand up to a splash of water. But it can't be dunked in water like other flagships with IP68 ratings can.

The bottom line

📱 The OnePlus 11 is a true return to form for the phone maker, even with the odd lack of wireless charging. This is a beautiful and well-built device that sets the bar high with extremely good battery life and a jaw-droppingly low starting price of $699. ★★★★

What you need to know
The OnePlus 11 takes on Android devices from Samsung and Google with top-tier specs, great cameras and an awesome starting price. Take all those factors into account, and this is one of the best total packages you can get right now. Just be aware that a new version — the OnePlus 12 — launches January 23.

Cameras: Whatever work OnePlus is doing with lens specialist Hasselblad to improve its cameras, long may it continue. The OnePlus 11 takes some bright, detailed shots, with portrait photos particularly impressing us. Night photos weren't as good in our head-to-head testing with the Google Pixel 7 Pro, and we wish the telephoto lens offered more than just a 2x optical zoom. But overall, this is a dependable camera phone, something we haven't said about previous OnePlus flagships.

Performance: Like the Galaxy S23 series, the OnePlus 11 runs on a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, though the chipset's not been optimized like it was for the S23. Nevertheless, you can expect some of the best performance yet recorded for an Android phone, with the OnePlus 11 even out-muscling the iPhone 14 Pro on some graphics tests.

Battery life: The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 also happens to be a very power-efficient chip, which helped the OnePlus 11 produce some very impressive results on our battery test. The phone lasted more than 13 hours on a charge, and that was with its adaptive refresh rate feature turned on.

Value for money: Among Android flagships, only the Pixel 7 costs less than the OnePlus 11, and Google's phone lacks a telephoto lens. It's pretty amazing the kind of features you get in a $699 device, which is why we think the OnePlus 11 is the best value out there.

Read the full review: OnePlus 11

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OnePlus 11 test results
AttributesNotesRating
PriceFlagship specs for $699 is hard to beat★★★★★
CamerasOnePlus continues to improve its cameras★★★★☆
PerformanceGalaxy S23 is faster, but not by much★★★★☆
Battery lifeIt's right up there with the iPhone 11 Pro Max★★★★★

The best compact flagship phone

The best iPhone features in the smallest-possible package

Specifications

Display: 6.1-inch OLED (2556x1179; 120Hz)
CPU: A17 Pro
RAM: 8GB
Storage / Expandable: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB / No
Rear camera: 48MP wide (f/1.8) w/ 2x zoom, 12MP ultra wide (ƒ/2.2), 12MP 3x telephoto (f/2.8)
Front camera: 12MP (ƒ/1.9)
Weight: 6.6 oz
Battery life (Hrs:Mins): 10:53

Reasons to buy

+
New titanium body
+
Blazing-fast performance
+
Action button is more useful than old mute switch
+
Strong photography

Reasons to avoid

-
Only 20W charging
-
3x telephoto doesn't match 5x on Pro Max
Buy it if

✅ You have a budget of around $1,000: Paying $999 for the iPhone 15 Pro only gets you the entry-level 128GB version, but it'll be just as competent as the higher-capacity versions, and offers almost the same feature set as the iPhone 15 Pro Max.

✅ You want a tough and practical design: The addition of titanium sides means the iPhone 15 Pro remains strong but is lighter than the old stainless steel iPhone Pro models. A customizable Action button replaces the simple mute switch with something you have more control over.

✅ You are a photography fan: All of the cameras on the iPhone 15 Pro are strong, but the phone performs its best when taking portraits and shooting in low-light settings.

Don't buy it if:

❌ You want great battery life: The battery on the iPhone 15 Pro is pretty strong, but it's not as good as any of its siblings. Balancing power-hungry features with minimal space for battery capacity will do that to a phone.

❌ You want the best iPhone cameras around: Three of the four cameras on the iPhone 15 Pro are the same as you get on the iPhone 15 Pro Max. But because the Pro Max also features a 5x zoom instead of just 3x, the iPhone 15 Pro looks underwhelming in comparison.

❌ You need fast charging: No iPhone charges particularly fast, so this won't be an issue if you're an Apple adherent. But comparing the 20W speeds Apple offers to the much higher wattages of Android phones shows how behind the curve Apple is.

The bottom line

📱 The iPhone 15 Pro provides (almost) all of the best iPhone features in a body that you don't need two hands to wield. The overhauled design, updated cameras, chipset and battery life all make it a great phone, but it lacks the value or top-tier specs to make it an excellent one. ★★★★

More like this

What you need to know
Apple's smaller Pro iPhone has a tough balancing act to perform, as its compact size makes it hard to stuff all of the latest Apple-made tech into it. Fortunately it still offers most of Apple's latest advancements, meaning it's a great pick for users who want performance and quality without buying a huge device.

Cameras: It's a shame that the iPhone 15 Pro only offers 3x zoom, as it's the only thing holding it back from matching the iPhone 15 Pro Max at the top of this list. It's particularly adept at taking night mode and portrait shots, but its main, selfie and ultrawide cameras are up there with the best of them too.

Performance: Apple's impressive A17 Pro chipset gives the iPhone 15 Pro performance that outstrips near-enough any other phone on any given benchmark. It looks like it's particularly good for gaming too with a ray-tracing capable GPU.

Battery life: The iPhone 15 Pro falls just shy of the 11-hour mark that splits the longest-lasting phones from the crowd. Don't interpret that as meaning the battery life is bad though, as it still beats a number of Android rivals.

Value for money: Staying at $999 means the iPhone 15 Pro looks like a great deal compared to top-tier Android phones, or the iPhone 15 Pro Max that starts at $200 more. But $999 is still a lot of money to pay out, so consider your purchase carefully.

Read the full review: iPhone 15 Pro

Swipe to scroll horizontally
iPhone 15 Pro test results
AttributesNotesRating
PriceKeeping the price under a grand was a smart idea from Apple★★★★☆
CamerasAs good as iPhone photography gets (except for the Pro Max)★★★★☆
PerformanceWith an A17 Pro chip, nothing will slow you down★★★★★
Battery lifeThe battery won't let you down, but it doesn't quite dazzle either.★★★☆☆

The best compact Android phone

Best compact Android phone

Specifications

Display: 6.2-inch OLED (2400x1080; 60-120Hz)
CPU: Tensor G3
RAM: 8GB
Storage / Expandable: 128GB, 256GB / No
Rear camera: 50MP wide (f/1.68), 12MP ultra wide (ƒ/2.2)
Front camera: 10.5MP (ƒ/2.2)
Weight: 6.6 oz
Battery life (Hrs:Mins): 9:50

Reasons to buy

+
More compact design
+
Brighter display
+
Excellent AI, particularly for photo processing

Reasons to avoid

-
$100 more expensive than Pixel 7
-
Tensor's not a speedy chipset
Buy it if

✅ You want the smartest phone around: The Tensor G3 powers more unique experiences than ever, both involving everyday phone use and advanced photo editing.

✅ You want an easy-to-see display in sunlight: Google has added an Actua display that's rated for 1,400 nits with HDR content and 2,000 nits of peak brightness.

✅ You like compact phones: The Pixel 8 features a 6.2-inch display, which is a little bit smaller than the 6.3-inch panel on the Pixel 7. That allows for a more slender form factor.

Don't buy it if:

❌ You demand high performance: Google's Tensor chips are about AI, not speed. The G3 is faster than its predecessor, but it still can't keep up with the Galaxy S23 and iPhone 15 in both speed and graphics tests.

❌ You want a big discount on price: It's true the $699 Pixel 8 still costs less than comparable phones from Apple and Samsung. But the gap's not as big as it used to be.

❌ You want a long-lasting phone: The Pixel 8 approaches the average smartphone result on our battery test. But other phones in this price range can go longer on a charge.

The bottom line

📱 The Pixel 8 delivers impressive AI-powered experiences for less than $700. We're particularly impressed with the latest photo editing tools introduced to this phone that let you improve the look of photos with just a few taps. And its relatively low starting price makes it a good alternative Android device for most people. ★★★★

What you need to know
The Google Pixel 8 wows with its AI-powered camera features, and we appreciate the brighter display in a more compact, comfortable design. While performance and battery life still lag behind the competition, the Pixel 8 delivers good value overall.

Cameras: A wider aperture on the Pixel 8's main camera improves low light performance. But it's the AI features that stand out, whether it's the Magic Editor allowing you to adjust just about everything in a shot or the Best Take capability that swaps in faces for much improved group shots. The Audio Magic Eraser also impresses by removing unwanted sound from video.

Performance: Don't look to the Pixel 8 and its Tensor G3 silicon for standout performance. It trails both A16 Bionic- and Snapdragon 8 Gen 2-powered phones in benchmark tests. But the AI experiences powered by the Tensor continue to make this phone a standout.

Battery life: The Pixel 8 lasts longer than the Pixel 7 on our battery test, with a time that just about matches the average result for smartphones. But other devices in this price range last a lot longer on a charge.

Value for money: Google offers seven years of software and security updates for the Pixel 8 — the most generous support for any smartphone maker, topping even Apple's extensive iPhone support. That makes up for a $100 increase over the price of the Pixel 7 in helping the Pixel 8 deliver good value.

Read the full review: Google Pixel 8

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Google Pixel 8 test results
AttributesNotesRating
PriceNot as cheap as it used to be★★★★☆
CamerasExcellent cameras aided by even smarter AI than before★★★★★
PerformanceIt's AI features, not processing power, that win the day★★★☆☆
Battery lifeBattery life is average, which is a step up for Pixel★★★☆☆

The best Samsung phone for most people

The Samsung phone most of us will buy

Specifications

Display: 6.1-inch Dynamic AMOLED (2340 x 1080)
CPU: Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy
RAM: 8GB
Storage / Expandable: 128GB, 256GB / No
Rear cameras: 50MP (f/1.8) main, 12MP (f/2.2) ultrawide, 10MP (f/2.4) 3x telephoto
Front camera: 12MP (f/2.2)
Weight: 5.93 ounces
Battery life (Hrs:Mins): 10:27

Reasons to buy

+
Bright display
+
Excellent performance powered by Snapdragon 8 Gen 2
+
Reduced price now that the S24 is here

Reasons to avoid

-
Disappointing front camera
-
Wired charging stuck at 25W
Buy it if

✅ You want S23 Ultra power at a lower price: Samsung uses the same Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy chipset across all three Galaxy S23 models. So this $799 phone performs as well as the $1,199 Ultra.

✅ You want a bright display: Like the other Galaxy S23 models, this version's 6.1-inch screen has a maximum brightness of 1,750 nits. We measured 1,158 nits, which is plenty bright.

✅ You want to hold onto your phone for a while: Samsung promises four years of Android updates and five years of security patches, so your Galaxy S23 will be up-to-date for a long time.

Don't buy it if:

❌ You take a lot of selfies: The updated 12MP front camera on the Galaxy S23 didn't impress in our testing, with rival phones producing better shots.

❌ You need to fast-charge your phone: The Galaxy S23 remains stuck at 25W charging. The other Galaxy S23 models can charge at 45W.

❌ You prefer a bigger screen: While it's certainly compact, the 6.1-inch Galaxy S23 doesn't have a lot of space, compared to the 6.6-inch S23 Plus and 6.8-inch S23 Ultra.

The bottom line

📱 The Samsung Galaxy S23 may not be a big step forward from previous Samsung releases, particularly the Galaxy S22, but if you've been holding on to your phone for a while, this is a worthwhile upgrade. You'll especially appreciate the Galaxy S23's improved performance and brighter display. ★★★★

What you need to know
The Galaxy S23 offers the best things about Samsung's flagship lineup at a lower price, especially now that Samsung has cut an additional $100 off the phone following the Galaxy S24's arrival. (You can read our Galaxy S24 hands-on while you wait for our review of that new model.) You get the same bright display and optimized chipset you'll find in the S23 Plus and S23 Ultra, without having to pay a premium. You will miss out on extra storage, though, as the S23 features 128GB in its base model.

Cameras: You give up the more powerful main camera and top-performing zoom lens by opting for this phone instead of the Galaxy S23 Ultra. But you also get solid cameras in this $799 phone that produce images that match up well with rival camera phones. The lone exception is the new front camera which produced disappointing results in our testing.

Performance: It may cost less than other Galaxy flagships, but the Galaxy S23 has the same Snapragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy chipset found in the rest of the S23 lineup. That means the best performance we've seen in Android phone for hundreds less than other top devices. Four years of software updates will mean the Galaxy S23 stays up-to-date for the foreseeable future.

Battery life: Here's where the compact size of the Galaxy S23 works against it, as it can't house the bigger battery found in larger Galaxy S23 models. Unlike the Galaxy S23 Plus and S23 Ultra, the standard S23 can't claim a spot on the longest-lasting phone list. But it does improve upon the performance of its predecessor, thanks to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2's power management features. It can only charge at 25W wired speeds, though.

Value for money: Debuting at $200 less than the Galaxy S23 Plus and $400 less than the S23 Ultra, the Galaxy S23 remains the most affordable Galaxy flagship you can buy. It's got the same starting price as the iPhone 15, and only flagships from OnePlus and Google undercut it on price.

Read the full review: Samsung Galaxy S23

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Samsung Galaxy S23 test results
AttributesNotesRating
PriceThe most affordable S23 matches the iPhone 14 price★★★★☆
CamerasEven without flashy features, these cameras perform well★★★★☆
PerformanceThe Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 provides stellar performance★★★★☆
Battery lifeOther S23 models last longer, but this beats the smartphone average★★★★☆

The cheapest big-screen iPhone

Apple's cheapest big-screen iPhone

Specifications

Display: 6.7-inch OLED (2778 x 1284)
CPU: A16 Bionic
RAM: 6GB
Storage / Expandable: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB / No
Rear cameras: 48MP main (f/1.6), 12MP ultrawide (f/2.4)
Front camera: 12MP (f/1.9)
Weight: 7.1 ounces
Battery life (Hrs:Mins): 14:14

Reasons to buy

+
Stunning battery life
+
Upgraded main camera with 2x zoom
+
Fresh new design
+
Good computing performance

Reasons to avoid

-
Slow to charge
-
No 120Hz screen
Buy it if

✅ You don't want to pay up for the iPhone 15 Pro Max: If you want a big screen — and none of the iPhone 15 Pro Max's premium features — the iPhone 15 Plus offers the same 6.7-inch display, but for $300 less.

✅ You want a long-lasting phone: The iPhone 15 Plus' big size leaves plenty of room for a big battery. That means an impressive result on our battery test of over 14 hours.

✅ You want top cameras: Any iPhone 15 model you buy is going to take great pictures — even those without a telephoto lens. And the iPhone 15 Plus produces some particularly detailed shots with its 48MP main camera.

Don't buy it if:

❌ You want a 120Hz display: Like the iPhone 15, the Plus has a fixed 60Hz refresh rate on its display. Only the Pro models can ramp up to 120Hz.

❌ You need a telephoto lens: The iPhone 15 Plus features excellent cameras, including a digital lossless 2x zoom. But that doesn't match up to a proper telephoto lens.

❌ You want rapid charging: With its extra-large battery, but no increase charging speed either from other iPhone 15 models or previous iPhones, it takes some time to power your iPhone 15 Plus up to full.

What you need to know
The iPhone 15 Plus makes a much better case for itself than the iPhone 14 Plus last year did. Its battery life is the best of all the new iPhones, and it's also benefitted from big upgrades to its cameras and chipset. Shame the upgrades didn't make it to the display refresh rate or charging speed though.

Cameras: Like the iPhone 15, the iPhone 15 Plus benefits from a new 48MP camera which offers more detail and a new 2x zoom mode. This doesn't match up to a dedicated telephoto lens but it still does its job well.

Performance: You'll get strong performance from the A16 Bionic inside the iPhone 14 Plus. Though it's one year old already, it still runs rings around most Android phones, meaning you shouldn't run into any trouble running demanding apps and games.

Battery life: This is the signature feature of the iPhone 15 Plus. Lasting over 14 hours means you won't need surprise visits to a charging point very often. Which is fortunate since the iPhone 15 Plus still only charges at 20W, despite the new USB-C port.

Value for money: It's hard to argue with a big-screen iPhone that costs $300 less than the iPhone 15 Pro Max. Still, you would hope that Apple would have added more features like a fast-refreshing display to its $899 smartphone. But Apple reserves premium capabilities for its Pro models these days so you end up making trade-offs for that discounted $899 price.

Read the full review: iPhone 15 Plus

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iPhone 154 Plus test results
AttributesNotesRating
PriceCheaper than the iPhone 15 Pro Max, but you'll make trade-offs★★★★☆
DesignExcellent shots under most conditions, but no proper zoom lens★★★★☆
PerformanceA16 Bionic is a year older — and still a top performer★★★★☆
Battery lifeThe longest-lasting iPhone you can buy right now★★★★★

The best Samsung value

The best value for a Samsung phone

Specifications

Display: 6.4-inch OLED (2340 x 1080; 90Hz)
CPU: Exynos 1380
RAM: 6GB, 8GB
Storage / Expandable: 128GB, 256GB / Yes
Rear camera: 650MP main (f/1.8), 12MP ultrawide (f/2.2), 5MP macro (f/2.4)
Front camera: 32MP (f/2.2)
Weight: 7.1 ounces
Battery life (Hrs:Mins): 10:20 (adaptive); 11:46 (60Hz)

Reasons to buy

+
Improved 50MP main camera
+
Fun colors
+
Bright, colorful display

Reasons to avoid

-
No wireless charging
-
Only modest performance gains from predecessor
Buy it if

✅ You want a capable phone for less than $500: The Galaxy A54 battles with the Pixel 7a as the best phone under $500. But price is the biggest concern, the Galaxy A54 is $50 cheaper at $449.

✅ You want the best display on a budget phone: Not only is the Galaxy A54's 6.4-inch screen bright at a maximum of 854 nits, it's also quite colorful. And when you need smoother scrolling and immersive graphics, the display refresh rate ramps up to 120Hz.

✅ You like flexible storage: The base model Galaxy A54 has 128GB of storage. But it's also equipped with a microSD slot for adding more capacity.

Don't buy it if:

❌ You want a top performing phone: While the Exynos 1380 silicon powering the Galaxy A54 improves upon the Exynos 1280 found in last year's Galaxy A53, Samsung's silicon can't measure up to Qualcomm's midrange chipsets or the Tensor chips inside the Galaxy A series phones. 

❌ You prefer to charge your phone wirelessly: The Galaxy A54 lacks wireless charging support. That's not an unexpected omission — lots of cheaper phones don't have this feature, though the Pixel 7a does.

❌ You need a telephoto lens: The cameras on the Galaxy A54 perform well, particularly the 50MP main shooter. But instead of a telephoto lens, the third rear camera is a dedicated macro sensor.

The bottom line

📱 The Samsung Galaxy A54 offers solid battery life, a bright and colorful display and an improved main camera that keeps pace with the Piel 7a for the most part. If your budget is limited to $500, this phone deserves strong consideration. ★★★★

What you need to know
The Galaxy A54 is one of the top midrange phones available, and a good buy if you don't want to spend more than $500 on a phone, thanks to an excellent display, solid cameras and long-lasting battery.

Cameras: The same 50MP main camera Samsung uses in the Galaxy S23 makes its way down the product line to the Galaxy A54. That helps this Samsung phone take good shots in low light, allowing it to match up well against the Google Pixel 7a. Portrait mode could use some work, but you'll generally get well-balanced photos without having to pay up for a flagship.

Performance: The processor is one of the few disappointments with the Galaxy A54, as this chipset trails the Tensor G2 in the Pixel 7a, not to mention the iPhone SE's A15 Bionic. That said, for most apps and games, you'll get enough processing oomph to get by.

Battery life: We're very impressed by how long the Galaxy A54 can last on a charge. With its display set to a fast refresh rate, you can still outlast the average smartphone by half-an-hour. Disable that feature, and the Galaxy A54 joins the rank of the longest-lasting phones we've tested, with a battery life of 11 hours and 46 minutes.

Value: It's hard to ignore the value of a phone that costs less than $500, but still offers a 120Hz display, a bright screen visible in direct sunlight, and cameras that measure up well against all comers. The Pixel 7a may deliver a tad more for the money when it comes to cameras, but the Samsung Galaxy A54 is still a bargain at $449.

Read the full review: Samsung Galaxy A54

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Samsung Galaxy A54 test results
AttributesNotesRating
PriceAt $50 less than the Pixel 7a, this phone's a bargain★★★★★
Cameras50MP main camera really shines ★★★★☆
PerformanceExynos 1380 still lags the midrange competition★★☆☆☆
Battery lifeGreat battery life, when you turn off adaptive display★★★★☆

The best foldable phone

The best foldable phone overall

Specifications

Display: Interior: 7.82 inch Flexi-fluid AMOLED (2440 x 2268) 120Hz; Exterior: 6.31 inch Super Fluid AMOLED (2484 x 1116) 240 Hz
CPU: Snapdragon 8 Gen
RAM: 16GB
Storage / Expandable?: 512GB / No
Rear camera: 48MP (f/1.7) main, 48MP ultrawide (f/2.2), 64MP telephoto (3x optical zoom)
Front camera: 20MP (f/2.2) front, 32MP (f/2.4) inner display
Weight: 8.43 ounces
Battery life (Hrs:Mins): 11:45

Reasons to buy

+
Outstanding thin and light design
+
Dynamic Open Canvas multitasking
+
Long battery life paired with fast charging
+
Generous 512GB storage

Reasons to avoid

-
Weak low light camera performance
-
No wireless charging
Buy it if

✅ You want a multitasking marvel: OnePlus takes a logical approach to how it handles multitasking on its main display with Open Canvas. Not only does it dynamically fit up to three apps simultaneously on screen, but you can save multiple presets for greater productivity.
✅ You value portability: Out of all the notebook styled foldables released to date, it's the lightest and thinnest one.
✅ You want a long-lasting foldable: There's no worry about battery life because it outlasts both the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Pixel Fold in our testing, while also delivering the speediest recharge time in a foldable.

Don't buy it if:

❌ You already have a foldable: Don't look for big changes in the OnePlus Open if you have a foldable already. For the most part, it makes iterative improvements, but it's not a big leap.
❌ You're on a budget: Despite its slightly lower cost of $1,699, which can be discounted down to $1,499 with a trade-in, it's still a pricey investment over the traditional slate smartphone.

❌ You like a wide cover display: It also has the largest main display in a foldable, so it begs to be handled with two hands as opposed to one.

The bottom line

📱 The OnePlus Open improves upon what existing notebook styled foldables have done already, but it makes all the necessary improvements to make it the best foldable phone. At the same time, it offers the longest battery life and recharge in a foldable, paired with a lower cost and premium design. ★★★★

What you need to know
OnePlus does everything right in a foldable phone. Not only is it incredibly well made, but OnePlus does justice in providing users with a more practical multitasking experience with Open Canvas. It has everything power users crave, paired with a lower pricing that undercuts its competition. 

Cameras: Armed with a Hasselblad camera system, the OnePlus Open handles most situations with ease, excelling mostly with its main camera when lightning conditions are ideal. Its 3x telephoto zoom camera is just as good as the Pixel Fold's 5x zoom camera, but it struggles in extreme low light.

Performance: The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 delivers good results with the OnePlus Open. It actually beats the Galaxy Z Fold 5 in graphics processing based on our benchmark testing, but we found it responsive in everyday use.

Battery life: Foldable phones don't always last a long time on a charge, given the super-sized screens they have to keep powered. Yet, the OnePlus Open goes the distance lasting over 11 hours on our battery test — easily beating out the Pixel Fold and Galaxy Z Fold 5. It also charges much faster, achieving an 85% charged capacity with 30 minutes of charging.

Value for money: OnePlus has an attractive proposition for prospective buyers. It already undercuts other notebook styled foldables with its $1,699 starting cost, but the extra $200 trade-in credit offer effectively makes it $1,499, which is a much better bang for the buck value than the $1,799 cost for the Pixel Fold and Galaxy Z Fold 5.

Read the full review: OnePlus Open

Swipe to scroll horizontally
OpenPlus Open test results
AttributesNotesRating
PriceIt's $100 less than the competition★★★★☆
DesignThinnest and lightest notebook styled foldable★★★★★
PerformanceThe Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset remains the Android silicon to beat.★★★★☆
Battery lifeThis is the best battery life we've seen in a foldble.★★★★☆

Battery benchmarks: comparison

Swipe to scroll horizontally
PhoneBattery life (tested)
iPhone 15 Pro Max14:02
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra13:09
Google Pixel 7a10:05
Google Pixel 8 Pro10:03
iPhone 1511:05
OnePlus 1113:10
iPhone 15 Pro10:53
Google Pixel 89:50
Samsung Galaxy S2310:27
iPhone 15 Plus14:14
Samsung Galaxy A5410:20
OnePlus Open11:45

When testing smartphones, we always run a battery test in which we set the phone's screen to 150 nits of brightness. We then force the phones to surf the web using their default browser, timing how long it takes to run out of power. The average smartphone lasts around 10 hours on this test.

How to choose the best phone for you:

Should you choose Android or iPhone? Android phones give you more choice in terms of price, size and innovative designs. However, iPhones offer speedier software updates, better games and apps and better security and privacy. See our iPhone vs Android face-off for more on the strengths and weaknesses of the two mobile platforms.

Should you buy your phone through a wireless carrier or get it unlocked? Most shoppers in the U.S. buy new phones through their wireless carrier. But an unlocked phone gives you the freedom to buy the device without any sort of contract and then bring it to the provider you want to use. And these days, it's pretty easy to bring an unlocked phone to any phone carrier.

How big a phone should you get? Fans of the best small phones will have a hard time finding devices with screens smaller than 6 inches today, though a few still exist. Thanks to shrinking bezels, most phones with screens around 6.1 inches are fairly compact. If you prefer a big phone, you'll want something with a screen that's 6.5 to 6.8 inches. Anything bigger, and you'll likely want to turn to a foldable phone, where the device opens up to reveal a larger display.

What kind of camera should you look for? Most phones will come with at least two rear cameras — a main lens and an ultrawide shooter, usually. Telephoto lenses offering an optical zoom are often reserved for more expensive flagship phones. Don't pay attention to the megapixel count. Instead, look at camera face-offs between phones to see the photo quality and look for special features like Night Mode to get better quality in low light. Also see our best camera phone roundup for more on the devices that really excel when taking photos.

What should you look for in terms of battery life? Generally, phones with larger batteries (measured in mAh) offer the longest battery life, but that's not always the case. That's why we run our own battery test, in which we make phones surf the web until they run out of power. The average phone runs out of juice in 10 hours, while the best phone battery life we've tested tends to pass the 12-hour mark.

How we tested these phones

In order for a smartphone to make our best phone list, it needs to excel on several tests that we run on every handset. We perform some of these tests in our labs and some in the real world.

When it comes to performance, we rely on such synthetic benchmarks as Geekbench 5 and 3DMark's Wild Life Unlimited to measure graphics performance. These tests allow us to compare performance across iPhones and Android devices. We also run a real-world video transcoding test on each phone using the Adobe Premiere Rush app and time the result.

To measure the quality of a phone's display, we perform lab tests to determine the brightness of the panel (in nits), as well as how colorful each screen is (DCI-P3 color gamut). In these cases, higher numbers are better. We also measure color accuracy of each panel with a Delta-E rating, where lower numbers are better and score of 0 is perfect.

One of the most important tests we run is the Tom's Guide battery test. We run a web surfing test over 5G or 4G at 150 nits of screen brightness until the battery gives out. As noted above, a phone that lasts more than 10 hour has good battery life, while phones that last around 12 hours or longer are among the longest-lasting phones we've tested.

Last but not least, we take the best phones out in the field to take photos outdoors, indoors and at night in low light to see how they perform versus their closest competitors. We take shots of landscapes, food, portraits and more, and also allow you to be the judge with side-by-side comparisons in our reviews.

For more information, check out our how we test page for Tom's Guide.

Philip Michaels

Philip Michaels is a Managing Editor at Tom's Guide. He's been covering personal technology since 1999 and was in the building when Steve Jobs showed off the iPhone for the first time. He's been evaluating smartphones since that first iPhone debuted in 2007, and he's been following phone carriers and smartphone plans since 2015. He has strong opinions about Apple, the Oakland Athletics, old movies and proper butchery techniques. Follow him at @PhilipMichaels.