Credit:
Reviewed.com / Michael Desjardin
The Best Smartphones of 2026
Products are chosen independently by our editors. Purchases made through our links may earn us a commission.
Credit:
Reviewed.com / Michael Desjardin
Why trust Reviewed?
Reviewed's mission is to help you buy the best stuff and get the most out of what you already own. Our team of product experts thoroughly vet every product we recommend to help you cut through the clutter and find what you need.
Learn more about our product testing
Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max
This model has a clear camera, safety features, fast 5G and strong battery life, Always-On, ProMotion, Dynamic Island, and Super Retina XDR display. Read More
Pros
- Amazing battery life
- Highly detailed, super clear camera
- Loads quickly
Cons
- None that we could find
Apple iPhone 14 Pro
This model has a clear camera, safety features, fast 5G and strong battery life, Always-On, ProMotion, Dynamic Island, and Super Retina XDR display. Read More
Pros
- Amazing battery life
- Highly detailed, super clear camera
- Loads quickly
Cons
- None that we could find
Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max
This model has an unmatchable camera and video capabilities, is made with a durable ceramic shield, and performs better than its predecessors. Read More
Pros
- Fun color options
- Water resistant
- Durable ceramic shield
Cons
- Expensive
Amazon Renewed Apple iPhone 13 Mini
This used, compact-size model performs better than its predecessors and is in excellent condition, yet still has a reasonable price tag. Read More
Pros
- More affordable
- Travel-friendly size
- Water resistant
Cons
- Phone is used
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra offers more storage space and a battery that’ll last through all of your daily activities. Read More
Pros
- S Pen included
- Strong battery
- Capture clear content in any lighting
Cons
- None that we could find
-
Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max
-
Apple iPhone 14 Pro
-
Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max
-
Amazon Renewed Apple iPhone 13 Mini
-
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
-
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip
-
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4
-
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra
-
Google Pixel 6a
-
Google Pixel 7 Pro
-
OnePlus 10 Pro
-
What To Consider Before Buying A Smartphone
-
The Type of Operating System
-
Who Is Your Phone Carrier?
-
How Much GB Storage You Want to Have
-
The Size of the Phone
-
Phone Camera Quality
-
Battery Strength
-
More Articles You Might Enjoy
- Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max
- Apple iPhone 14 Pro
- Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max
- Amazon Renewed Apple iPhone 13 Mini
- Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
- Samsung Galaxy Z Flip
- Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4
- Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra
- Google Pixel 6a
- Google Pixel 7 Pro
- OnePlus 10 Pro
- What To Consider Before Buying A Smartphone
- The Type of Operating System
- Who Is Your Phone Carrier?
- How Much GB Storage You Want to Have
- The Size of the Phone
- Phone Camera Quality
- Battery Strength
- More Articles You Might Enjoy
The Rundown
- Our favorite smartphones are the Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max and the Amazon Renewed Apple iPhone 13 Mini.
- When choosing a smartphone, prioritize camera quality, battery life, and screen size to match your usage needs.
- Look for durable designs, fast 5G cellular, and strong security features for a reliable and protected device.
Choosing a new phone can be fraught with anxiety. This is, after all, a gadget that you’ll be interfacing with every day, morning to night, for the next couple years or more. And with so many options on the table these days—operating system, screen size, front and rear camera quality, regular or wirelessly charging—it’s natural to feel overwhelmed.
If you’re wondering what the best phone on the market right now is, then you’re lucky; because we’re here to make some recommendations for you. If you want the best of the best but are on a tight budget, we also have a list of The Best Smartphones Under $500 that you can take a look at.
From battery to processor to screen quality and beyond, these overall best smartphones can safely be considered the cream of the crop. You should know that the best current smartphones usually don’t come cheap. But you know what? The best things in life rarely do.
To help you find the right smartphone, we explored a variety of options available online, as well as used our own knowledge and experience with smartphones. Based on our expertise, we found these to be the best phones you can buy online right now.
What To Consider Before Buying A Smartphone
The Type of Operating System
The two major operating systems for smartphones are Android (used by several manufacturers) and iOS (found in Apple products, such as iPhones, iPods, and iPads). There are several major differences between these two operating systems, but mainly you’ll find that Android is very customizable, while iOS is a closed source.
Who Is Your Phone Carrier?
Many smartphones are compatible with most major phone carriers, such as Sprint, T-Mobile, Verizon, and AT&T, but it is still important to consider the type of phone plans your phone carrier offers for the smartphone you want and if it is within your budget. If you're unsure, ask about whether a given device is locked or intended for a specific network before you buy.
How Much GB Storage You Want to Have
The amount of gigabytes (GB) you choose for your smartphone will depend on how much content and information you will store on it. The lowest you can go is 8 GB (not a common pick) and the highest you can go is 512GB. Most people choose 128GB to start, but you can easily buy more storage if you run out of space (it happens to the best of us, especially if you decide to take endless photos on a vacation).
The Size of the Phone
If you want to fit your phone in your pocket, then any of the iPhone's pro max models may not be ideal. In this case, it would be good to choose a smaller size phone, such as the Apple iPhone 14 Pro or Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4.
Some people prefer a bigger screen though, especially since it’s easier and more enjoyable to view content on it that way; but since we take our phones everywhere with us, you may want one with smaller dimensions. That is, of course, personal preference.
Phone Camera Quality
Newer smartphone models tend to have the best camera quality, since that is one of the most common upgrades of getting the latest and greatest smartphones on the market.
Camera quality is measured by the number of megapixels there are. The more megapixels there are in the camera, the clearer and more sharp your photos will be. For example, the iPhone 14 Pro Max has a 48MP camera system, which is the best camera iPhone has released so far.
Battery Strength
The most common battery seen in smartphones is the lithium-ion battery. If your battery is new, your smartphone will have a strong battery, meaning it could last well over 24 hours without dying, as well as have fast-charging capabilities.
On average, depending on how much you use your phone, a smartphone battery will last two to five years (300 to 500 charging cycles). Although, the more you charge your battery, the quicker it will weaken (that is why it is good to let your phone die or wait until it is almost dead to recharge it).
You should therefore look for a smartphone with a lithium-ion battery and ideally buy a phone that is new, not used.
More Articles You Might Enjoy
Meet the writer
Lily Hartman
Staff Writer, Search
Lily Hartman is a staff writer who also enjoys writing magazine articles about health and outdoor recreation. In her free time, she likes to hike, camp, run, and lift weights.
Checking our work.
Our team is here to help you buy the best stuff and love what you own. Our writers, editors, and experts obsess over the products we cover to make sure you're confident and satisfied. Have a different opinion about something we recommend? Email us and we'll compare notes.
Shoot us an email