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What’s next for smartphones?
After that, this year will be all about thin.
(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
Will thin phones sacrifice too much to be worth buying?
We’ll know soon enough.
It also looks snazzy and feels amazing to use.
Best iPhone cameras
The iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max have identical cameras, at last.
Below, you’ll find in-depth details about each of the best phones on our list.
The best iPhone overall
1.
The high-speed video recording that enables more fluid slow motion may also be a game-changer for cinematic videos.
It lasted just a bit longer than the iPhone 16 Plus, but both offer incredible battery life.
It lasts for days.
This is the one for switchers.
You won’t find them at your mobile phone store, but it’s worth seeking them out.
I highly recommend a OnePlus case, too, since it opens the world of MagSafe accessories.
Oh, and did I mention this phone is IP69 water resistant?
you’re free to clean it in the dishwasher.
It’s also incredibly responsive, even if you get it wet.
Camera:Amazing cameras excel at action shots by freezing motion to a standstill.
What can you do with all that power?
The future will tell.
Battery life:This is the battery life winner, lasting nearly 20 hours in our battery rundown test.
The big iPhone above died two hours earlier.
The OnePlus 13 also charges faster than any other phone on this list.
Even wirelessly, it charges faster than an iPhone.
This is a premium flagship that will cost what you’d pay for the base model.
Dont let sticker shock scare you away, OnePlus offers discounts and trade-in bonuses to help.
You just cant get one at the Verizon store (try Best Buy).
A more professional look and an incredible feel with the new vegan microfiber.
It could be brighter, but its a winner.
(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
The best Android interface software, but I wish there was more to take advantage of all that power.
Eventually AI may come along, but for now OnePlus isnt pushing AI tools too hard.
This phone is refreshing to use all around.
(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
The best cameras for action photos, even at night, and great pics all around.
It does more with 3x zoom than some phones managed with 10x zoom.
You wont find a faster phone, according to our benchmarks.
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Oh, and it charges stupidly fast.
The best iPhone cameras
3.
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The iPhone 16 Pro is the pint-sized powerhouse in Apple’s latest iPhone lineup.
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Otherwise, there are no big complaints about this year’s iPhone.
Design:The iPhone 16 Pro looks exactly like last year’s iPhone.
It’s a bit heavier, but you won’t notice unless you put the two on a scale.
(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
Display:The iPhone 16 Pro features a 6.1-inchOLEDdisplay that can remain always-on and can refresh up to 120Hz.
I especially like the slow motion video that looks extra smooth thanks to higher recording speeds.
Still, buy the faster charger just in case.
(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
There are definitely more AI features to come, so this phone could get better with time.
It’s still complicated, with many duplicate apps and bloatware you don’t want.
The Galaxy S25 Ultra takes smartphone cameras to the extreme.
If you don’t need all the Ultra features (still with the S Pen?
12
Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Ultra redefines smartphone performance.
It stands out as arguably the best overall phone available.
Design: The Galaxy S25 Ultra’s design refinements, though subtle, are noteworthy.
Display: The Galaxy S25 Ultra’s bright OLED screen offers an unparalleled smartphone display experience.
While slightly brighter or faster alternatives may exist, its anti-glare coating significantly improves outdoor visibility.
Samsung’s display delivers vibrant colors and exceptional sharpness for any task.
Performance: For users demanding top-tier speed, the Galaxy S25 Ultra is the clear choice.
This marks a first for Android phones against Apple’s custom-designed chipsets.
Read our fullGalaxy S25 Ultra review
Samsung held fast on the Galaxy S25 Ultra price.
4/5
The biggest Ultra screen ever.
It’s also backed by a solid and even more useful One UI update.
It’s a near-perfect mix of performance and efficiency.
Best battery life I’ve seen on a smartphone.
Days of use is within reach.
(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
The best Android for AI
5.
If you’re worried about AI, this phone won’t help.
It looks sleek and modern, and it features more AI tools than you could imagine.
(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
Google’s AI can have a conversation, fix your photos, or fake an insurance scam.
Maybe don’t do that last thing.
Display: Google continues to quietly dominate smartphone displays with the Super Actua screen on the Pixel 9 Pro.
(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
It’s the brightest screen you’ll find, and it looks fantastic.
The Pixel 9 Pro display can handle it.
I hope this phone really lasts sevent years of Android updates, but the future is unclear.
(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
Excellent new design; the biggest change to Pixel phones in four years.
Fantastic materials and a more modern look.
Super-bright be careful to not overheat.
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With a grain of salt and a sense of humor, the AI stuff is A-Okay.
Google avoids bad AI stereotypes, and gives us a nice glimpse of the future for mobile AI.
Fantastic cameras rival the best camera phones you could buy.
(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
Great new features, including Add Me for AI group photos.
Camera options are too difficult to manage.
Performance lags significantly, both in benchmark testing and the real world.
(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
This phone lags if you push too hard, and Google wants you to push too hard.
3 / 5
Solid battery life beats the iPhone, and the phone has no trouble lasting all day.
I wish the charging was as fast as Google makes it seem.
(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
The best iPhone for battery life
6.
You might wish for a zoom lens, but these cameras still take stellar pics.
It’s an iPhone, after all.
(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
The next upgrade, to the Pro-level chips, is the one that hurts the wallet more.
While it’s not 120Hz, the 6.7-inch is expansive, rich with details, and gets quite bright.
The A18 makes the iPhone 16 Plus fly and provides ample headroom for years of use.
(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
Camera Control steals the show, but both the main and ultra wide benefit from improved low-light performance.
iOS 18 runs really well here and provides a lot of functional enhancements.
The best bargain phone
7.
The colors are not subdued, unless you’re boring and you get black or porcelain.
The edges are much more rounded and curved, making it a stylish phone, not a boring slab.
With a promise to support the phone for seven years, I hope this processor holds up.
It still could use a battery boost, plus faster charging.
If you need a lot of battery, look elsewhere.
It’s the Pixel 8a’s weak point.
I’ll be following the deals closely on this one.
I especially appreciate IP68 water resistance.
Great, bright display, just like the screen I loved on the Pixel 8.
(Image credit: Future / Roland Moore-Colyer)
It could be bigger, sharper, faster, but its very bright, and thats good enough.
It could get even better.
Photos look very similar to Pixel 8 Pro shots, until you zoom in close.
(Image credit: Future / Roland Moore-Colyer)
Still great for a phone at this price.
The AI editing features are the real standout.
The battery is smaller than the Pixel 8, and battery life suffers.
(Image credit: Future / Roland Moore-Colyer)
Charging is also a bit slower, whether wired or wireless.
If you need more screen time, I have other suggestions.
The best phone for Teens
8.
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Plus, this one comes in better colors than the Pro iPhone.
You do get Apple’s Dynamic Island this time around, though.
In my testing, I was able to use the phone casually for a full day.
Read our fulliPhone 15 review
The best Samsung phone
9.
The Galaxy S24 Ultra is still tops for image quality.
The crease is hardly visible and the premium finish looks fantastic, especially in the brighter colors.
That’s disappointing, but you’ll still take good photos, especially selfies.
How do I choose the best phone?
I have options on this list at both ends of the price spectrum.
If you’re looking for something outside the norm, I have plenty of unique options, as well.
There are large phones, small phones, and Max-sized phones.
I have phones with space-level zoom, and phones that specialize in touching portraits.
(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
I test every feature on a phone, then we dive deeper to discover all of the hidden goodies.
I ensure that phones deliver on the promises and claims they make.
If Samsung says a phone charges in 30 minutes, I time it to confirm.
(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
I verify the phones deliver what I’d expect for the price.
Once I’m done, I never stop.
I update our reviews as the phones are updated.
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