9 Best Smartphones of 2026

iPhone 17 is the best all-round phone on this list for the money. Apple moved ProMotion to the standard model, so the 6.3-inch Super Retina XDR display now refreshes at up to 120Hz, drops to 1Hz for the Always-On mode and reaches up to 3000 nits outdoors. The A19 chip, a 48MP Fusion Main camera with an optical-quality 2x option and a new 48MP Fusion Ultra Wide camera cover most daily photo needs, and the 18MP Center Stage front camera keeps groups in frame on video calls. Apple rates the battery at up to 30 hours of video playback, and storage starts at 256GB. The price is the catch: Apple's store lists iPhone 17 from $899, and that figure includes a $30 discount tied to activation on AT&T, T-Mobile or Verizon. There is no telephoto lens, so buyers who zoom often should compare Pixel 11 or iPhone 18 Pro.

Pixel 11 is the strongest Android phone here for buyers who care about the camera and long support. Google's spec sheet lists a 48MP wide camera, a 13MP ultrawide and a 10.8MP telephoto with 5x zoom, plus Super Zoom up to 30x, which is more reach than any other phone under $1,000 on this list. The 6.3-inch Actua display runs at 60 to 120Hz and reaches up to 3000 nits. Google Tensor G6, 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage come in the base model, and Google promises 7 years of OS, security and Pixel Drop updates. The 4985 mAh battery is rated at 30+ hours, and Pixelsnap wireless charging is Qi2.2-certified up to 25W, so magnetic chargers attach without a case. At 6.9 oz it is heavier than Galaxy S26. Buyers who want an iPhone should compare iPhone 17 at the same price.

Galaxy S26 is the value pick among the full flagships on this list while Samsung's sale lasts. Samsung.com listed the 256GB model at $849.99 against a regular price of $999.99 when we checked, and Samsung's March 2026 release gave a launch price of $899.99. For that you get a 6.3-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display at up to 2600 nits, the Exynos 2600 processor, 12GB of RAM and a triple camera with a 50MP wide, a 12MP ultra wide and a 10MP 3x telephoto. It weighs 167g and is 7.2mm thick, the lightest flagship here, with IP68 and Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on both sides. Samsung adds Galaxy AI tools such as Photo Assist and Now Brief. The 4300 mAh battery is the smallest on this list, and Samsung's own pages list 30 to 31 hours of video playback. If the sale ends, Pixel 11 at $899 gives more zoom.

iPhone 18 Pro is the most capable phone on this list, and it is priced that way. Apple's September 2026 release lists the A20 Pro chip built on 2-nanometer technology, a new vapor chamber for sustained performance and a 48MP Fusion Main camera with a six-blade variable aperture from f/1.48 to f/4, a first for iPhone. All three rear cameras are 48MP, and Apple's comparison lists optical zoom options at 0.5x, 1x, 2x, 4x and 8x. Pro controls expose aperture, shutter speed and white balance. Apple rates eSIM-only models at up to 36 hours of video playback and says wired charging reaches 50 percent in around 15 minutes with a 60W-capable setup. Storage goes up to 2TB, and the new C2 modem adds mmWave in the US. At $1,199 it costs $300 more than iPhone 17, so most buyers who do not need the telephoto or pro controls will be better served by the cheaper model.

Galaxy S26 Ultra is the most feature-packed Android phone on this list. Its 6.9-inch screen has a built-in Privacy Display, which Samsung describes as the first on a phone: when enabled, it narrows the viewing angle so people next to you see less. Samsung lists the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy with a 39% faster NPU than S25 Ultra, a 200MP wide camera, a 50MP ultra wide and a 50MP telephoto with 5x optical zoom, plus 100x AI-powered Zoom. The 5000 mAh battery is rated at up to 31 hours of video playback, and Super Fast Charging 3.0 reaches 75% in about 30 minutes. Samsung.com listed the 256GB model at $1,149.99 against a regular $1,399.99 at our check. The tradeoffs are size and weight: it is 214g and 7.9mm thick, and the price is high once the sale ends.

Pixel 10a gives most of the Pixel experience for less. Google's spec sheet lists a 6.3-inch Actua pOLED display at 60 to 120Hz with up to 3000 nits peak brightness, the same peak figure as Pixel 11. The 5100 mAh typical battery is rated at 30+ hours, and Extreme Battery Saver stretches that to up to 120 hours. Google gives it the same 7 years of OS, security and Pixel Drop updates as the flagship, along with Satellite SOS and Car Crash Detection. The cameras are a 48MP wide and a 13MP ultrawide, with Super Zoom up to 8x but no telephoto. It runs Tensor G4 with 8GB of RAM, which is older and lighter than Pixel 11. Google launched it in February 2026 at $499, but the Google Store listed it from $599 when we checked, so compare that against Galaxy A57 at $599.99 and iPhone 17e at $699.

iPhone 17e is the entry point to Apple's current lineup. Apple's March 2026 release lists the A19 chip with a 4-core GPU, a 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR display behind Ceramic Shield 2, and a single 48MP Fusion camera with an optical-quality 2x Telephoto option. Storage starts at 256GB, and the phone keeps IP68 water and dust resistance, MagSafe and Qi2 charging up to 15W, and satellite features for Messages, Emergency SOS, Roadside Assistance and Find My. Apple's C1X modem replaces the C1 from iPhone 16e. The cuts are visible next to iPhone 17: no ProMotion, no Always-On display, no Dynamic Island, no ultra wide camera and up to 26 hours of video playback against 30. Apple launched it at $599, but its store listed it from $699 when we checked. At $200 less than iPhone 17, it suits buyers who mainly message, browse and take casual photos.

Galaxy A37 5G is the lowest-priced phone on this list, and Samsung did not cut the basics to get there. Samsung's page lists a 6.7-inch FHD+ Super AMOLED display, an Exynos 1480 octa-core processor, a 5,000 mAh typical battery and IP68 water and dust resistance. Software support runs to 6 OS upgrades and 6 years of security updates, close to the 7 years Google gives Pixel phones. The rear cameras are a 50MP wide with optical image stabilization, an 8MP ultra wide and a 5MP macro, with a 12MP front camera. The 128GB model has 6GB of RAM; the 256GB model has 8GB for $609.99. Super Fast Charging 2.0 reaches 60% in 30 minutes, but only with a 45W charger sold separately. Galaxy AI basics such as Object Eraser and Circle to Search are included. Buyers who can spend $110 more get a faster chip in Galaxy A57.

Galaxy A57 5G is the step up from Galaxy A37 for buyers who want a thinner phone and a quicker chip. Samsung lists the Exynos 1680 with CPU and GPU performance up to 15% better than the previous model, 8GB of LPDDR5X memory on both storage options and a 6.9mm body. The 6.7-inch FHD+ Super AMOLED Plus display is the same size as the A37, and the camera upgrade is a 12MP ultra wide in place of 8MP, alongside a 50MP wide with OIS and a 5MP macro. The 5,000 mAh battery charges to 60% in about 30 minutes with a 45W charger sold separately. Samsung covers it with 6 OS upgrades and 6 years of security updates, and adds Wi-Fi 6E and IP68. At $599.99 it lands at the same price as Pixel 10a, which has a larger battery and one more year of updates, so it mainly suits people who prefer Samsung's One UI.