Best phones 2026 tested — Our top picks

I've been testing and reviewing phones for nearly two decades now, and in that time, I've never seen stiffer competition among the best phones. Now that the new year has arrived, there's a bit of calmness with the best phones.

If you need a phone now, I've turned to the rest of the phone reviews team at Tom's Guide to put together this list of 10 top devices that tick all the boxes for performance, camera features and battery life. And Apple's iPhone 17 Pro Max currently holds the crown.

Apple gives the iPhone 17 Pro Max its biggest hardware and software makeovers, with attractive looking two-toned design and iOS 26 update. The base model in the lineup, the iPhone 17, also gets its biggest upgrades in years with a 120Hz refresh rate and double the storage capacity.

The Galaxy S26 Ultra just became the newest member of this list. Although it still couldn't beat the iPhone 17 Pro Max, it is now the best Android phone you can buy thanks to its Privacy Display, top-tier chipset and improved battery and charging. And that's before you consider it's also the ultimate camera phone you can buy right now thanks to its quad rear shooters.

If you're reluctant to pay $1,000 or more for a phone — and I can't say I blame you — the Pixel 10a stands out for its sub-$500 cost. Even though it has few hardware upgrades, the software and new AI tools are the biggest selling points. You can also beat the high cost of smartphones by opting for the iPhone 17, which matches the Apple Intelligence features of the more expensive iPhone 17 Pro Max. Google leans even more into AI with the Pixel 10 and Pixel 10 Pro, with the former setting the bar for all $799-priced phones.

I've reviewed many of these phones first-hand, with other Tom's Guide phone experts adding their thoughts and insights for an in-depth look at which devices you should consider. Between every one of our phone reviewers, we've got nearly five decades of experience evaluating phones from every possible angle.

Our best phone picks are based on our lab tests and real-world use of each phone we get our hands on. Here are the 10 phones you should consider if you're looking to get a new handset right now.

The 3 best phones — quick list

Written by

Written by

John Velasco

I'm the senior editor for mobile at Tom's Guide, where I've been working since 2023. I've been covering mobile tech for 17 years in total, starting with old school feature phones and early smartphones powered by Palm OS and Windows Mobile. I'm a New Jersey native and keep up with the latest mobile tech.

The best phone overall

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iPhone 17 Pro / Pro Max REVIEW: The Good, The Bad, The Surprising - YouTube

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The iPhone 17 Pro Max gives Apple the top spot top spot away from the Galaxy S25 Ultra to become the best phones we've tested, but that's more of a reflection of its upgrades and new redesign. Promised Siri improvements tapping into AI won't arrive until 2026, but there are some additional Apple Intelligence features included with the iOS 26 release.

Just like how Liquid Glass is a big makeover for the software, there's still plenty to love about the iPhone 16 Pro Max's hardware. This model offers a brand new, two-toned design that brings the biggest change to the series since the Pro Max's inception, an upgraded telephoto camera, faster processor, and new Center Stage front camera.

You won't have to ditch your iPhone 16 Pro Max if you upgraded in 2024, But owners of older iPhones will appreciate the boosts in performance, photo processing and smarter features that the iPhone 17 Pro Max brings to the table.

Price and value: While this model commands the same $1,199 cost as its predecessor, its faster A19 Pro chip and bigger battery means you're getting more for your money. That's particularly true when the Ultra model of Samsung's Galaxy S flagships costs $100 more than Apple's top model.

"Less expensive" is relative, though, as the iPhone 17 Pro Max's $1,199 starting price is a lot for some people to pay.

Camera performance: iPhones live and die by their cameras, and the telephoto lens on the iPhone 17 Pro Max offers some notable improvements. Apple ditches the 12MP 5x optical zoom camera of the iPhone 16 Pro Max and instead swaps its for a 48P telephoto with 4x optical that can achieve 'optical-quality' at 8x zoom. If that's not enough, it also packages in a new 18MP Center Stage camera that makes shooting selfies a lot more convenient.

If there's one area where the iPhone 17 Pro Max still proves untouchable, it has to be none other than low light performance. The photos it captures with night mode are brighter, sharper, and more detailed than all the other flagships.

Battery and charging: The battery on the iPhone 17 Pro Max lasts nearly 18 hours on our battery test, where we have a phone surf the web until its battery gives out. The average phone barely makes it past 10 hours, but the iPhone 17 Pro Max was just getting warmed up at that point. No other iPhone has ever lasted that long, with the iPhone 16 Plus coming the closest with an average result of around 16.5 hours.

It's also worth noting that Apple increases the wired charging speed of the iPhone 17 Pro Max to 35W.

Overall performance: Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite is giving the iPhone all it can handle, but the A19 Pro chipset powering the iPhone 17 Pro Max turns out to be faster in some regard.

We noticed the extra oomph when using the iPhone 17 Pro Max to perform everyday tasks and switch between apps. When we used the iPhone 17 Pro Max to transcode a video, the task took half as long as it did on the Galaxy S25 Ultra. And with a vapor chamber inside, the iPhone 17 Pro Max runs at top performance while remaining cool.

Verdict: The iPhone 17 Pro Max wins top marks for design, photography and performance. There's room for improvement with AI features, and it's very expensive relative to some of the other phones on this list, but you definitely get a lot of power and polish for your money.

Read the full review: iPhone 17 Pro Max

More on the iPhone 17 Pro Max

Why you can trust Tom's Guide Our writers and editors spend hours analyzing and reviewing products, services, and apps to help find what's best for you. Find out more about how we test, analyze, and rate.

• The best iPhones
• I'm buying a new iPhone 17 Pro Max — but only because it's orange
• iPhone 17 Pro Max vs Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra: Which flagship will win?

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The best camera phone

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Galaxy S26 Ultra vs iPhone 17 Pro Max: The Gap Is Growing (FULL REVIEW) - YouTube

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The Galaxy S26 Ultra is Samsung's latest premier Android flagship, and does a lot of things that even the list-topping iPhone 17 Pro Max can't match.

The S26 Ultra's camera system remains a highlight, boasting a 200MP main sensor and a 50MP telephoto lens with wider apertures to improve low-light photography. The zoom capabilities of the phone's dual telephoto cameras remain unmatched, producing clearer, less noisy images at a variety of distances. For videographers, the new "Horizon Lock" feature is a huge deal, ensuring footage remains perfectly level and steady even with shaky hands. However, these hardware improvements come at a physical cost: the much-enlarged camera bump, which you'll be cursing when you want to lay the phone flat on a table or toher surface.

Beyond the cameras, the S26 Ultra features an innovative Privacy Display that can block snoopers from viewing what's on your screen, though it does result in narrower viewing angles and a slightly dimmer screen compared to the S25 Ultra. Meanwhile, new agentic AI capabilities promise to anticipate user needs through features like Now Brief for contextual recommendations and automated app actions that aim to let users book rides or order food via a simple Gemini command.

While the S26 Ultra offers strong battery life and faster charging speeds, the lack of built-in Qi2 magnets for MagSafe-style accessories and the absence of a next-generation silicon carbon battery mean it has retained the same battery capacity as older models. But that aside, you can't do better than the Galaxy S26 Ultra if you want an Android phone that can tackle anything you might feasibly want a phone to do.

Price and value: The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra maintains its premium positioning with a starting price of $1,299 (£1,279 / AU$2,199) for the 256GB model, notably avoiding the $100 price hike seen on the standard S26 models. For this price, users receive the most advanced AI features and hardware innovations currently available in the Android ecosystem, making it a high-value choice for enthusiasts, even if it lacks some of the newer battery technologies found in rival flagships.

Camera performance: This is a major highlight, featuring a 200MP main sensor and a 50MP telephoto lens with wider apertures that deliver significantly better low-light performance than previous models. Zoom remains a primary strength, consistently outperforming the iPhone 17 Pro Max in clarity and noise reduction at high magnifications. Video capabilities are also bolstered by the new "Horizon Lock" feature, which keeps footage perfectly level during movement.

Battery and charging: Battery life on the Galaxy S26 Ultra is strong, providing reliable longevity that competes well with other top-tier flagships. Charging speeds have also seen an improvement, allowing users to power up more quickly than before. However, the lack of a silicon-carbon battery, which could have offered even higher energy density, is a pity. Additionally, Samsung opted not to include built-in Qi2 magnets in order to keep the phone thinner, meaning users will still need a compatible case to enjoy MagSafe-style magnetic charging.

Overall performance: The Galaxy S26 Ultra excels in day-to-day use thanks to its AI features, such as Now Brief and Automated App Actions, which allow the phone to anticipate user needs and handle tasks in the background. The hardware is equally impressive, featuring a thinner and lighter design that makes this large phone easier to handle than its predecessors. The S Pen adds further value by integrating with new AI tools like Creative Studio for sketching and image generation. The most innovative performance feature is the Privacy Display, which uses specialized hardware to obscure the screen from onlookers, providing a unique layer of security.

Verdict: Ultimately, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is the best Android phone currently available, driven by a marriage of hardware innovation and helpful AI. While the massive camera bump and the slightly dimmer display (a side effect of the privacy tech) are notable compromises, they are outweighed by the phone's exceptional zoom, steady video, and unique privacy features. It is the definitive choice for power users who want a high-performance "AI agent" in their pocket and are willing to pay a premium for the most complete flagship experience on the market.

Read the full review: Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra

More on the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra

• Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra battery life tested — here's how it stacks up to iPhone 17 Pro Max and more
• Galaxy S26 Ultra lab tests show that it's dimmer than S25 Ultra — even with Privacy Display turned off
• Samsung just did the impossible with the Galaxy S26 Ultra — I can't decide which of these two new features I like more
• I spent 24 hours with the Galaxy S26 Ultra — what I like (and don’t) so far

• ^ Back to the top

Best under $500

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Google Pixel 10a HANDS ON! New Features, Camera Specs, Battery & More... #pixel10a #googlephone - YouTube

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Everyone was fretting on whether Google would increase price the Pixel 10a this year, but the company's decision to keep its midrange phone at the same $499 price as the Pixel 9a is a welcome relief. The cost of the Pixel 10a still looks better than the forthcoming iPhone 17e that Apple's still asking for $599.

Despite the lack of new hardware upgrades, it still really is the best cheap phone around. You can't help but appreciate how the Pixel 10a evolves the design by making the camera design truly flush this time around, while its construction benefits from an upgraded IP68 rating and Corning Gorilla Glass 7i on the front to improve its scratch and drop resistance.

Meanwhile, the Pixel 10a still makes for a compelling option with its Tensor G4 chip, 6.3-inch Actua display, 5,100 mAh battery, and more AI features. I can attest that it's the budget phone to beat with the most value, for now.

Price and value: In addition to sparing your budget with its $499 price, the Pixel 10a should last you a very long time. Google provides the same seven years of software and security updates as the pricier Pixel 10 Pro and 10 Pro XL models.

If the price isn't enough to convince you, just know that there are Pixel 10a deals that discount the phone even more from its normal price, while also throwing in freebies.

Camera performance: While the flush camera design on the back of the phone is a refreshing change over other phones, the Pixel 10a cameras actually don't get an upgrade. It's still a 48MP main camera that pairs with a 13MP ultrawide, while a 13MP camera sits around the front for selfies.

I put this to this test in my Pixel 10a review and it's no surprise that I don't see a tremendous change against the previous Pixel 9a. However, it does tack on two new AI tools — Camera Coach and Auto Best Take — which are helpful in getting the best possible shots.

Battery and charging: The Pixel 10a beats the average smartphone's performance on our battery test. The Pixel 10a was able to surf the web for 15 hours and 16 minutes before tapping out, which is a surprising improvement over the Pixel 9a's time of 13 hours and 8 minutes.

Improving battery life by more than 2 hours over its predecessor shows that Google is on the right track when it comes to bolstering the battery life of its phones. I'm surprised by this because it has the same 5,100 mAh battery as before, so I suspect that the power efficiency of the software is the cause for its improved performance.

Overall performance: Speaking of performance, AI features continue to be a big part of the Pixel 10a's story gaining most of the same AI-tools first introduced with the Pixel 10 lineup. The Pixel 10a is also the first in the A-series to offer Satellite SOS to get help when there's no traditional cell phone coverage around.

But don't sleep on the phone's call management features, either, as I think they're some of the best AI features on the Pixel and unique to Google's phones. I also love the Call Screen feature that lets Google Assistant take phone calls on my behalf, complete with contextual responses I can choose.

Just be aware that some Pixel 10 AI features are missing here — notably the Pixel Screenshot app for retrieving screenshot info saved on your phone and the AI-enhancements of Pro Res Zoom.

Forget about blazing speeds, though, as that's not in the Tensor chips' locker. That said, the Pixel 10a does handily out-perform the $399 Galaxy A36, which uses a lower-powered Snapdragon chipset. However, it trails the A18's performance with the iPhone 16e.

Verdict: The Pixel 10a is a superb contender that continues to prove how budget phones can rival flagship models. Every aspect of the phone has been improved over its predecessor. From its much bright (and larger) screen, to its longer battery life, and better camera performance, it's a fantastic option for anyone. Best of all, it gets some of the AI features found with the more expensive Pixel 10 models.

Read the full review: Google Pixel 10a

More on the Google Pixel 10a

• Google Pixel 10a vs Pixel 9a: What's the difference?
• Forget Samsung DeX! I tried desktop mode on the cheap Pixel 10a and it’s just as good
• iPhone 17e vs Pixel 10a: Here’s how these budget phones stack up

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Smartest phone

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AI is the feature of the moment right now with smartphones, as both Apple and Samsung spent the past year adding AI-powered features to their phones. Google's an old hand at this, though, having switched to the AI-focused Tensor chipset with the Pixel 6.

Now, we're up to Tensor G5 on the Google Pixel 10 Pro, and having used Apple Intelligence, Galaxy AI and Google's AI tools, I think Google has the most capable AI of them all. In fact, that's the conclusion we came to after our AI phone face-off, which pitted all 3 platforms against each other. So you don't have to just take our word for it.

Google says customers wanted a more compact version of the Pro to go with the big-screen model. If you prefer more screen real estate, consider the Pixel 10 Pro XL, which has the more-or-less the same features as the regular Pro, but a 6.7-inch display, faster charging and a bigger battery, instead. It's also harder to use with one hand in my experience.

Price and Value: The Pixel 10 Pro costs the same $999 that Google charged for the Pixel 9 Pro. The size of the Pro hasn't changed this time around, but then again not much of the external hardware has either — meaning these two phones share a familiar design. You also get a few improvements including a brighter display, Qi2 magnetic wireless charging, and a larger battery — plus all the new software and AI features that are exclusive to Tensor G5 and the new generation.

Bargain hunters may want to consider the Pixel 10a since it shares most (though not all) of the Pixel 10 flagships' AI features. You won't get a telephoto lens or any of the new AI functionality like Magic Cue, but you will save a few hundred bucks in the process.

Camera performance: Actual Pixel 10 Pro camera improvements are modest — with identical hardware to last year. In fact the photos themselves are essentially identical, which might put the 10 Pro at a disadvantage when the iPhone 17 Pro launches. But we do get extra things like Camera Coach and the 100X ProRes Zoom to make up for the disappointing lack of new hardware.

Really, the Pixel 10 Pro's camera performance lives on the strength of its photo processing, and that remains strong, the cameras producing well-composed shots that showed off fine details when I tested them.

Battery and charging: Battery life hasn't been a strong suit for a lot of Pixel phones, but the Pixel 10 Pro continues what the 9 Pro started. With a 4,870 mAh battery and a more efficient Tensor G5 chipset, the Pixel 9 Pro lasted an average of 13 hours and 43 minutes in our web surfing test — behind the comparably sized iPhone 16 and Galaxy S25 models, sure, but well, ahead of that 10-hour average for other smartphones. Other Pixels struggled to reach even that threshold so I like what I've seen from the Pixel 10 Pro's ability to get through the day on a charge.

Overall performance: The Tensor G5 that powers the Pixel 10 Pro can't keep pace with other top Android phones in benchmark testing, and it trails the iPhone 16, too. But that's not the focus of Tensor.

Instead, it powers a number of helpful AI features, including the Ask Photos feature that lets you edit your photos using prompts rather than using individual editing tools. It doesn't matter whether you do that with text or speech, the AI will still be able to handle all the editing for you. We also have upgrades to Best Take, which works automatically, and Add Me, which offers support for larger groups and pets.

There's also a new 100x ProRes Zoom feature, that mixes optical and digital zoom with generative AI to take surprisingly clear shots of stuff in the far distance. Not to mention the Magic Cue assistant, which helps surface important information in Google apps when it thinks you need it most — like tracking information, travel plans and more. it does need a little bit of polishing, though.

Verdict: If you're willing to bet that the Pixel 9 Pro's AI features will improve over time, the camera performance, longer battery life and bright display should be enough to give you a great device right now.

Read the full review: Google Pixel 10 Pro

More on the Google Pixel 10 Pro

• I checked out the Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro, and Pixel 10 Pro XL — here’s the one I recommend
• Google Pixel 10 Pro vs Pixel 9 Pro: These are the biggest upgrades

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Best iPhone value

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The iPhone 16e may be cheaper, but it doesn't deliver as many features as the iPhone 17. This entry-level Apple flagship also offers incredible value against the pricier iPhone 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max, thanks to all the things it has in common with those pricier models.

In fact, I argue that the iPhone 17 has more 'Pro' features than ever before. Certainly, no one would claim the iPhone 16 is an afterthought, given all the new additions.

Price and value: The $799 starting price of the iPhone 17 remains a lot to pay for most people. But it's cheaper than the $999 iPhone Air, not to mention those iPhone 17 Pro models, which start at $1,099 and only climb upward from there. Whether it's the Galaxy S25 or Pixel 10, you're going to pay $799 for an entry-level smartphone, so at least Apple's not charging you more.

The iPhone 16e costs $200 less and also supports Apple Intelligence features. But that phone comes with a single rear camera and lacks features like MagSafe support and the Dynamic Island. I think that's an awful lot to give up unless price is absolutely paramount among your concerns.

Camera performance: The 48MP main camera unlocks a lot of photography potential in the iPhone 17, but its ultrawide camera has a wider f/2.2 aperture that allows it to gather in more light than previous iPhones.

The iPhone 17 continues to offer lossless 2x zoom without the need of a telephoto camera too, which helps bridge the gap between itself and the Pro models. While the zoom 2x zoom shots are usable, its 10x zoom shots are starting to look dated compared to the Pixel 10 and its dedicated 10.8MP telephoto with 5x optical zoom.

Battery and charging: Apple's larger iPhones have more room for bigger batteries but the iPhone 17 also gets a larger one due to the extra room that's normally occupied by a SIM slot. In fact, it lasts more than 12 hours on a single charge — that's well ahead of the average smartphone, but not the Galaxy S25.

Thankfully Apple's upgraded its wired charging speed to 35W, which adds a fair back to the battery using Apple's new 45W charger.

Overall performance: The A19 chipset within the iPhone 17 is potent, proving just as capable as the A19 Pro. (Apple's Pro chipset has a little more muscle when it comes to graphics, thanks to an extra core in its GPU.) Even more impressive is how it puts up better scores in GeekBench than most Android phones running the latest Snapdragon 8 Elite chip.

This boosted chipset allows the iPhone 17 to support AI-powered Apple Intelligence features just like Apple's Pro models, though as we've noted there hasn't been a whole lot new with the iOS 26 release.

Verdict: The iPhone 17 is a better value than the iPhone 16 that came before it, thanks in part to its much smoother 120Hz refresh rate, 256GB starting storage, stronger A19 performance, and how it now carries similar features found on the 17 Pro models.

Read the full review: iPhone 17

More on the iPhone 17

• I went hands-on with all the new iPhone 17 devices — and this is the one I'd actually buy
• iPhone 17 vs. iPhone 16: Biggest differences explained

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Best Android flagship value

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The OnePlus 15 makes a serious statement, proving that flagship phones are capable of offering long battery life. Now that it's switched over to a silicon-carbon battery, it sets a new record in our best phone battery life list by giving a real world performance of over two full days. If that's not enough to convince you how it's more of an evolutionary upgrade, it still offers the best bang-for-the-buck value.

Despite being one of the last flagship releases this year, it's the one that's most improved in my review. The OnePlus 15 differentiates itself because of how its 7,300 mAh battery cell uses advanced Silicon Nanostack technology to add more energy without causing the phone to be any larger in size. And as a result, the dense battery allows it to reach new heights with battery life performance. Another alternative to think about is the OnePlus 15R, which too benefits from a long-lasting battery.

Price and value: Let's talk about that price hike. The OnePlus 15 starts at $899, which is the same price as the previous OnePlus 13. However, that price is always subject to change according to OnePlus due to current market conditions.

If you compare that to the starting price of entry-level flagships that cost around $799, it still has incredible value given its larger display and battery capacity. Compare it to similarly sized phones like the Galaxy S25 Ultra and iPhone 17 Pro Max, and the OnePlus 15 still costs substantially less while delivering equivalent features.

Camera performance: The company's partnership with Hasselblad ends with the OnePlus 15, but that's not something to worry about because its triple 50MP camera system gets help from new sensors, better image processing, and help from AI.

The main camera works well under ideal conditions, while the ultrawide it tapped for all macro photography, which produces crisp closeups that capture a ton of detail. Over on the telephoto side, its 50MP telephoto shooter with 3.5x optical zoom seems short compared to its rivals, but OnePlus applies its DetailMax Engine to enhance its zoom shots with help from AI. However, its low light and selfie camera performance continues to underperform.

Battery and charging: If there's one thing that the OnePlus 15 proves, it's that two days of battery life is achievable. That's because it's able to cram a dense 7,300 mAh carbon silicone dual cell battery, and paired with the power management features found in the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset, sets a record in our phone battery test. The new OnePlus flagship lasted 25 hours and 13 minutes, which is nearly 15 hours better than the average smartphone.

What's even better is the real world battery performance my colleague got in his testing, which carried him over two days. Every single flagship phone needs a nightly charge, but not the OnePlus 15. If that's not enough, you also get 80W charging speeds in the U.S. (It's 100W elsewhere).

Overall performance: The top-of-the-line Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset inside the OnePlus 15 means it's above the pack because few phones are running Qualcomm's latest flagship chips. It's no wonder that it produces class leading results in various benchmark tests, including GPU performance where it reaches the fastest frame rate average we've seen with 3DMark's Wild Life Unlimited test.

There's also the dedicated 165Hz refresh mode that kicks on for certain games, like PUBG Mobile and Call of Duty Mobile, which increases the tough response to give gamers even tighter controls with smoother looking graphics and animation. Finally, new OnePlus AI features seals its value with helpful tools like AI Writer, AI Perfect Shot, and Mind Space new to the roster.

Verdict: It's time to start thinking about OnePlus in the same way you'd consider Samsung or Google when mulling over which Android phone to get. The OnePlus 15 belongs in the same conversation as any leading Android device, thanks to its strong performance, class leading battery life and surprisingly strong cameras. Software support gets better, too, thanks to the new AI features that come with OxygenOS 16.

Read the full review: OnePlus 16

More on the OnePlus 15

• Best phone battery life: Where the OnePlus 15 ranks
• OnePlus 15 vs. Galaxy S25: Which flagship Android phone will be better?
• Best OnePlus phones

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Best zoom camera for less

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Google really sets the bar for all $799-priced flagship models, as the Pixel 10 gains several new tricks that make it more Pro-like than ever before. From its charming color options, to dedicated telephoto camera, and even extra Google AI features, the Pixel 10 is superb device worthy of our list

I tested it out and really emphasize how much of a difference a dedicated telephoto camera makes, which is made more poignant given that it's much cheaper than its Pro siblings. With a triple camera system now in place, the Pixel 10 offers much more utility for less.

Price and value: The $799 starting price of the Pixel 10 is comforting because it's the same price as last year's model, while adding that new telephoto camera, Pixelsnap support, more AI features, and a much brighter display.

What's even more impressive is the latest set of AI tools and features it brings. It gets the same smarts as the more expensive Pro models, including helpful features like Magic Cue, Voice Translation, Ask Photos, and much more.

Camera performance: While the 48MP main camera and 13MP ultrawide are brought over from the previous model, it's the new 10.8MP telephoto with 5x optical zoom that really rounds out its camera arsenal. With an optically backed lens, it lets you get closer to subjects — while capturing incredible detail. The difference is instantly noticeable compared to other phones like the iPhone 17, which leans on its main camera for all zooming.

Battery and charging: There's a modest improvement to the Pixel 10's battery life, reaching 13 hours and 13 minutes in our battery drain test. That's nearly 45 minutes longer than the prior model, and it's still more than enough juice for all-day battery life for most people.

Power users will certainly still need to top off at some point, so it's nice that Google gives it a faster 30W wired charging speed. This is in addition to Pixelsnap support, which lets the Pixel 10 work with many MagSafe and other magnetic accessories, like wallets and stands.

Overall performance: The Tensor G5 still has a lot to prove because benchmark scores put it behind many of its main rivals. However, the G5 is still faster and more power efficient than the previous Tensor G4 chip. Thankfully you won't notice any performance hiccups with most processes, as the Tensor G5 paired with its 120Hz refresh rate makes tasks look smooth and instant.

Verdict: The Pixel 10 is a compact sized phone that's perfect for content creators and photo enthusiasts now that it's adopted a dedicated telephoto camera into its arsenal. And with all of Google's AI features, it offers a robust software experience that turns complex tasks into short and easy ones — giving you more time to focus on other things. Best of all, it remains at the same $799 price as before.

Read the full review: Pixel 10

More on the Pixel 10

• Google Pixel 10 vs. Pixel 9: All the biggest upgrades
• I put the Pixel 10 vs iPhone 16 through a 10-round camera shoot-out — here's the one I'd get
• I checked out the Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro, and Pixel 10 Pro XL — here’s the one I recommend

• ^ Back to the top

Best alternative value phone

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Budget phones tend to have compromises, but the Nothing Phone 3a Pro offers more for less. Considering how it costs $459 and packs features that are usually reserved for much more expensive flagship models, I can't stop saying that the Nothing Phone 3a Pro redefines what it takes to be a budget phone. The Pixel 10a is a better bargain, but if you're looking for a low-cost device that also has a telephoto lens, this Nothing phone should be at the top of your list.

While its strengths continue to be around its unique design, Nothing OS, and Glyph Interface, Nothing adds a robust set of triple cameras on the back of the phone — complete with a telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom. Phones under $500 don't get this sort of treatment with their cameras.

If that's not enough to convince you about its utility, the Nothing Phone 3a Pro also offers all-day battery life with its 5,000 mAh battery and fast charging with its 50W speed. Over on the software side, Nothing OS 3.1 sports the same minimalist design that the software is known for, while also diving into the world of AI with the Essential Space.

Price and value: You really can't beat its $459 starting cost, which is a fraction of the cost of your typical flagship — and $40 less than the Pixel 10a. The Nothing Phone is also accompanied with 12GB of RAM and an even more generous 256GB of storage. Throw in its triple cameras, neat Glyph Interface, and long lasting battery, it's hard to deny its value.

To get the best price on the Nothing Phone 3a Pro, you'll need to buy directly from Nothing. Amazon sells the phone, but at a markup that pushes the price above $500 at the moment.

Camera performance: What's clear here that budget phones can have triple camera systems. Yet the Nothing Phone 3a Pro takes it one step further because of how it consists of a main, ultrawide, and telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom. The latter's important because budget phones often have less optical zoom, or none at all because they're transformed into portrait or macro cameras. The Pixel 10a, for example, has no dedicated telephoto lens while the iPhone 16e only features a single main camera.

For a budget phone, the camera performance is outstanding, especially under low light where it's much improved over its predecessor in the Nothing Phone 2a. There's also a dedicated macro mode than leverages the main camera instead of the ultrawide, to get sharper, more detailed images.

Battery life and charging: There's a 5,000 mAh battery inside of the Nothing Phone 3a Pro, which is enough to propel it to an average of 14 hours and 33 minutes on Tom's Guide's battery benchmark test. That actually beats many of its main rivals, like the iPhone 16e and Pixel 10a.

You can also tap into its 50W wired charging to get it charged in no time at all. In fact, 15 minutes of charging gets it up to 39% capacity — while 30 minutes moves it up to 70%. The only thing missing is wireless charging, which is probably the biggest compromise to getting this phone.

Overall performance: Ditching MediaTek in favor of Qualcomm this time around, the Nothing Phone 3a Pro is powered by a Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 chip. Benchmark scores don't make it as formidable, but it can still handle everyday tasks. Beyond that, it struggles to keep up smooth frame rates with games, which can often come off as choppy even when its dedicated Game Mode is enabled.

Verdict: If you're looking for a feature rich phone without the bloated cost, the Nothing Phone 3a Pro fits the bill. Few phones have such an intriguing design like this, plus it's pared with a versatile triple camera system that covers all the range from near, far, and everything in between. You'll just have to live without wireless charging and less than ideal gaming performance.

More on the Nothing Phone 3a Pro

• Nothing Phone 3a Pro vs. Pixel 8a camera comparison
• Best cheap phones under $500

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Best foldable phone

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After ceding ground to other foldable phone makers like Motorola and OnePlus, Samsung bounces back in a big way with its 2025 devices. Both the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Galaxy Z Flip 7 are the top choices for best foldable phone. Given the Fold's lofty $1,999 starting price and the playful design of a foldable flip phone, we think the Galaxy Z Flip 7 is the better choice for more people.

Both the interior and cover displays are larger on this year's model, making it easier to handle your business on the go. In particular, the 4.1-inch Flex Window is invaluable for getting better previews when shooting photos. And Samsung has made some key improvements, including tailoring its Galaxy AI features for the phone's foldable design.

Price and value: After a price hike to the Galaxy Z Flip 6, Samsung has held the line at a $1,099 starting price for the Galaxy Z Flip 7. That compares favorably to the $1,299 Motorola Razr Ultra (2025), a compelling foldable phone in its own right, though the Galaxy Z Flip 7 outperforms it in several key areas.

Samsung also offers a lower price option in the Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE, an $899 version that shares more in common with the Z Flip 6 than the newer model. For that reason, I'd steer you toward the Z Flip 7, which delivers more for the extra $200.

Camera performance: Camera specs haven't changed from the last version of Samsung's foldable phone, though there is an improvement to the ProVisual Engine that produces particularly strong photos in low-lighting. Even without much in the way of changes, though, the Galaxy Z Flip 7 offers the best cameras among foldable phones.

I tested the new Flip and specifically call out the phone's Flex mode, which makes it easier to get the shots you want. Thanks to the Flip's unique design, you can take selfies with the higher-resolution main camera, and you can position the exterior display to see what you're shooting as well. Robust camera controls will appeal to content creators in particular.

Shooting images with both the Galaxy Z Flip 7 and Razr Ultra, I found that Samsung's phone offered better contrast, brighter pictures and superior definition to the background details of shots.

Battery and charging: Battery life remains a challenge for foldable phones, though the larger 4,300 mAh battery in the Galaxy Z Flip 7 does help it improve upon the Galaxy Z Flip 6's time in our battery test by nearly 1.5 hours. Still, in testing the phone, I found that the Galaxy Z Flip 7 was usually on the verge of going into power-saving mode by the end of the day, so you should plan on daily charging to keep this device powered up.

Battery life is one area where the Galaxy Z Flip 7 still trails Motorola's foldable phones, as the Razr Ultra bested the Flip's time on our test by more than 3 hours. The Razr offers faster wired charging, too.

Overall performance: Samsung decided to use its own Exynos 2500 chip instead of a Snapdragon 8 Elite system-on-chip, and as a result, the Galaxy Z Flip 7 turns in less robust results in CPU and GPU benchmarks than phones with Qualcomm's silicon. (That includes the Razr Ultra.) Nevertheless, in daily usage, I didn't spot any performance lags with the Galaxy Z Flip 7, and gaming on the device produced bright, smooth graphics.

Where the Galaxy Z Flip 7 distinguishes itself is with its AI capabilities. All the Galaxy AI features on Samsung's latest flagships are present and accounted for here, with the outer display on the Flip able to show off updates from the Now Brief and Now Bar features. I particularly found multimodal AI support to be a great addition to the Flip, as it allows the phone to see what you're seeing via its cameras, so that you can ask questions and gather information.

Verdict: The Galaxy Z Flip 7 is lighter and thinner than its predecessor, with the latest version of Android and a stellar set of AI features. Even areas that that haven't seen much of a gain like the cameras remain the go-to-choice among foldable devices.

Foldable phones aren't for everyone, but if you've been intrigued by the flexibility of a screen that can expand into something larger when you need it, the Galaxy Z Flip 7 is your best choice right now.

Read the full review: Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7

More on the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7

• Best foldable phones
• Reasons to buy and skip the Galaxy Z Flip 7

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Best thin phone

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iPhone Air Battery Life Results ARE IN… I’m Shocked! - YouTube

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Rounding out the list is the iPhone Air, which takes the best of Apple's flagship model, but in a much thinner and lighter package. Its 5.64mm frame makes it an engineering marvel that sets the benchmark for all other flagships when it comes to a thin design, all while proving it can also outmuscle its rivals with its A19 Pro chip.

Price and value: This one's tough because a thin design does come with some trade-offs. For starters, you're paying a premium with its $999 starting cost, which isn't too far off from the iPhone 17 Pro Max.

Two of the biggest trade offs include its smaller battery and the fact that it only has a single rear camera, which is unheard of for a modern flagship. It doesn't have as long as a battery charge as a result, so charging it is a frequent occurrence you'll need to come to terms. Meanwhile, it lacks the dedicated telephoto and ultrawide cameras that come with Apple's Pro models — so you're not going to get as good results.

Despite these shortcomings, it's a powerhouse in every way with its flagship caliber A19 Pro chip, 256GB starting storage, and modest sized 6.6-inch OLED with an adaptive 120GHz refresh rate.

Camera performance: Apart from the fact it only has a single rear camera, the iPhone Air actually delivers excellent results, especially under low light conditions. In fact, it matches the iPhone 17 Pro's main camera performance for just about every type of shot.

Battery and charging: This is undoubtedly the weakest part about the iPhone Air, as it's clearly at a disadvantage with its smaller battery. Even with the power efficient A19 Pro chip, it pulls in a tepid 12 hours and 2 minutes in our battery benchmark test.

Yes, it's a shortcoming you'll need to accept in order to get a phone that's this thin, but it doesn't help that it doesn't get the same fast charging speeds as the iPhone 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max.

Overall performance: In my colleague's review, Mark Spoonauer says he was satisfied by the iPhone Air's performance. The A19 Pro chip has one less GPU core than the 17 Pros, but it's more than sufficient for most tasks — which only helps when you get fluid animations and instant responses with its 120Hz refresh rate. Benchmark scores put it on par to those of the other iPhone 17 phones.

Heat buildup is a little of a problem here, which appears to be isolated towards the top of the device, and this is the area that got fairly warm during our testing. Mark tried running Asphalt Legends for 10 minutes, and ended up measuring a temperature range of 106-109 degrees around that area.

Verdict: Although it's not a home run, the iPhone Air gives us a small taste at what could end up being the biggest trend of the year: flagship phones with rail thin designs, just like the Galaxy S25 Edge. It's solidly constructed too, complete with the same IP68 rating as the iPhone 17 Pro.

If you're tired of having to carry around big phones that feel heavy, the iPhone Air is your best choice for now — and this is despite some of its trade-offs. Not only do you have the same set of Apple Intelligence features to try out as the iPhone 17 Pros, but it still packs a bright display, good camera performance, and 7 years of software support.

Read the full review: iPhone Air

More on the iPhone Air

• iPhone 17 vs iPhone Air: Which new iPhone should you buy?
• I just switched from iPhone 16 Pro Max to iPhone Air — what I like and what I don't
• iPhone 17 Air vs Galaxy S25 Edge

• ^ Back to the top

Best phones: Key specs compared

Here's a closer look at how our best phones pick compare when it comes to display brightness and battery life test results.

FAQs: Finding the best phones

How we test smartphones

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 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.

Also Tested

Since we review all the latest devices, there are still a handful that almost qualify as best phone contenders that don't make the cut — but they're still worth a look. Here's some of our favorite ones:

OnePlus 15R: $699 at OnePlus

If the OnePlus 15 is a bit of a stretch for your budget, then consider the OnePlus 15R that benefits from a silicon-carbon battery to deliver outstanding battery life performance. There's a ton of value in this Android phone, including the same OxygenOS 16 software that offers the best multitasking experience in any slate phone. And if that's not enough, it has a 6.83-inch display with a blazing fast 165Hz refresh rate for certain games.

Read our full OnePlus 15R review

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Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7: $2,119.99 at Amazon

Yes it's one of the most expensive phones you can buy, but it's for good reason because the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 is a substantial upgrade over its predecessor. Most notably, it adopts the ultra-thin construction of the Galaxy S25 Edge, but does it in an impressive manner for a notebook style foldable phone. Besides the design, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 is a productivity powerhouse complete with a 200MP main camera.

Read our full Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 review

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Motorola Razr Ultra 2025: was $1,299.99 now $999.99 at Amazon

The best phone from Motorola you can buy is the Razr Ultra 2025. Previously, its 'Plus' Razr model was hailed as the flagship in the series, but the Ultra replaces it with good reason. You'll find an incredibly thin flip-style phone with the longest-lasting battery life in a foldable phone around. Plus, it adds more Moto AI features and a neat macro mode to round out its package.

Read our full Motorola Razr Ultra 2025 review

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