1. The list in brief
2. Best phone overall
3. Best Samsung
4. Best phone under $500
5. Smartest camera phone
6. Best iPhone value
7. Most affordable AI phone
8. Best value flagship
9. Best compact flagship
10. Best Android value
11. Best cheap big iPhone
12. Best foldable phone
13. Longest-lasting phone
14. Battery life test results
15. How to choose
16. How we test
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 rankings have the iPhone 15 Pro Max edging out the Galaxy S24 Ultra for the title of best phone —see our Galaxy S24 Ultra vs iPhone 15 Pro Max showdown for an analysis of how the phones compare. Of course, with the iPhone 16 set to launch in the fall, we could see a shakeup to the rankings very soon.
Looking for something beyond Apple and Samsung? We're impressed by other phones, too, including the Pixel 8a, which we rate as the best phone below $500.
Recent updates
Samsung has unveiled new foldables — the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Galaxy Z Flip 6 — which ship July 24. Stay tuned for our full review to see if they rank among the best phones, but you can read our Galaxy Z Fold 6 hands-on and Galaxy Z Flip 6 hands-on for initial impressions.
The quick list
The best phone overall
The iPhone 15 Pro Max vaults past other devices on this list thanks to its superior A17 Pro silicon and a revamped camera setup that includes a much better telephoto lens than before. We also like the 14-hour battery life and extra storage that Apple's top phone offers.
Best Samsung phone
The Galaxy S24 Ultra is the best Android phone you can buy, thanks to its powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, long battery life and outstanding cameras. New AI-powered capabilities simplifying mundane tasks also adds to the Galaxy S24 Ultra's appeal and help justify its lofty $1,299 starting price.
Best phone under $500
Google continues to offer a great alternative to pricey flagships, with its A series phones. The Pixel 8a features the latest Tensor chipset and the AI features that come with that, plus the excellent cameras you'd expect from a Google phone. Best of all, it costs the same $499 as the Pixel 7a that came before it.
Smartest cameras
Mobile photography fans should turn to the Google Pixel 8 Pro and its AI photo-processing features powered by the Tensor G3 chipset. You also get a brighter display and seven years of software and security updates from Google.
The best iPhone value
At $799. Apple’s iPhone 15 offers the kind of value you don’t normally expect from phones at this prince,whether it’s the impressive A16 Bionic processor, the Dynamic Island feature or 48MP main camera. Whatever feature draws you to this phone, the low price helps seal the deal.
Samsung's affordable AI phone
The Galaxy S24 comes with all the Galaxy AI features found on the Galaxy S24 Ultra but in a phone that's $500 cheaper. You still get premium specs in a more compact device that also lasts a long time on a charge.
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Best value flagship
The OnePlus 12 establishes itself as the best alternative to more familiar Android brands with an upgraded periscope telephoto lens and a larger display. We're also happy to see the return of wireless charging to OnePlus' flagship.
Compact flagship
Although it doesn't quite match up to its larger sibling, both in terms of battery life and camera tech, the iPhone 15 Pro still fits in everything you could want from a premium phone into a relatively small frame.
Best Android value
The OnePlus 12R sacrifices just enough OnePlus 12 features to drop the cost of the cost of the phone to less than $500. But enough key features remain to make this a very capable midrange phone.
The best big iPhone value
There's not a huge difference between the iPhone 15 Plus and the smaller iPhone 15. But the former's battery life is tops among iPhones, and it's the cheapest way to get a big-screen Apple phone.
The best foldable phone
The OnePlus Open is the foldable phone to get, thanks to its thin and light design, powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip, Hasselblad camera system, long battery life, and the fastest charging foldable around. It al handles multitasking the best with its Open Canvas feature
Best battery life
No phone lasts longer than the Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro. The gaming-focused handset posted the best time we've ever recorded on our battery test, and it charges quickly, too.
I'm the managing editor for mobile at Tom's Guide, where I've been working since 2015. In total, I've covered technology for more than 20 years, and I was there when Steve Jobs showed off the original iPhone back in 2007. I've been looking at and testing phones since that day, and if you visit my Northern California home, you can marvel at the stacks of hones I keep handy for head-to-head testing.
The best phone overall
✅ You want Apple's best iPhone: The iPhone 15 Pro Max offers the best of Apple's phones, including a mighty 3nm chipset and an exclusive 5x telephoto camera.
✅ You value good design: The iPhone's side rails are now made of a titanium alloy, the display bezels are thinner, and an 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.
❌ 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.
❌ 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.
📱 The iPhone 15 Pro Max is tops for design, photography and performance. Charging speed and digital zoom features could be further refined, and it's very expensive. But it's still a remarkable device worthy of an upgrade. ★★★★
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, offering features you won't even find on the iPhone 15 Pro. The design has been made lighter and more premium with titanium sides, the A17 chipset inside the device is more powerful than any Apple silicon before it, and the camera array gets some improvements, too. Apple has roared back to capture the spot 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 over previous Pro Max models, thanks to its 5x zoom capabilities. Its low-light performance is pretty spectacular too. That said, the Galaxy S24 Ultra still has the better zoom feature even if we think the iPhone 15 Pro Max is the best camera phone overall.
Performance: Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip now beats the iPhone on some tests, but the A17 Pro chipset powering the iPhone 15 Pro Max remains a very fast chip. You'll notice the extra oomph when you're performing everyday tasks and switching between apps. For all the Snapdragon's gains in graphics, the iPhone 15 Pro Max still outperforms the latest Galaxy device when it comes to real-world tasks like video transcoding. A17 Pro-powered phones like the iPhone 15 Pro Max will be able to support the Apple Intelligence features Apple is rolling out later this year.
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. As for Samsung's comparable device, the Galaxy s24 Ultra saw a price hike, too, so Apple's top device remains the less expensive option.
Read the full review: iPhone 15 Pro Max
| Attributes | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Price | This iPhone costs a pretty penny | ★★★☆☆ |
| Cameras | A great main camera but so-so zooms | ★★★★☆ |
| Performance | You won't find a better performing phone | ★★★★★ |
| Battery life | Don't worry about running out power | ★★★★★ |
The best Samsung phone
✅ You want the best Android phone available: The Galaxy S24 Ultra offers the peak Android experience, thanks to the fast and power efficient Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset.
✅ You take a lot of photos: Few camera phones can match the Galaxy S24 Ultra for photo quality, particularly in low light.
✅ You want polished AI features: New capabilities like Circle to Search and a tool that auto-formats your notes are helpful, practical additions you'll use every day.
❌ You can't swing the steep starting price: As good as the Galaxy S24 Ultra is, $1,299 is a lot to pay for a phone, especially when other S24 models offer Galaxy AI.
❌ You want a 10x optical zoom: The S23 Ultra's 10x zoom lens is replaced by a 5x camera (though it has sharper resolution). It feels like a step back.
❌ You prefer compact phones: The Galaxy S24 Ultra may use a titanium frame to lighten the load, but a 6.8-inch device is still a chore to lug around.
📱 The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra gives the iPhone all it can handle, lasting longer than Apple's phone on a charge and outperforming it on several benchmark tests. Throw in seven years of software updates and smart AI features, and this is a phone that delivers on value. ★★★★
What you need to know
The Galaxy S24 Ultra has the improvements you'd expect from Samsung's annual flagship upgrade, such as a better processor, a brighter display and camera fine-tuning. But this year's model stands out with the arrival of Galaxy AI features, which tap into artificial intelligence to handle tasks like translation, transcription and summaries. This may be Samsung's first attempt at putting AI front and center, but tools like Circle to Search and notes auto-formatting already feel very polished. And more importantly, they're part of your everyday phone usage.
Cameras: Swapping out a 10MP telephoto lens with a 10x zoom for a 50MP shooter with a 5x zoom feel like a step back, even with the higher-resolution photos. (At least you can still enjoy 10x zooms by cropping down those 50MP shots. And the 100x Space Zoom feature is as impressive as before.) Nevertheless, the Galaxy S24 Ultra remains a top camera phone, with a better handle on color than previous Samsung flagships.
Performance: The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 inside the Galaxy S24 Ultra delivers stellar performance — enough to beat the iPhone 15 Pro models in some tests, particularly when it comes to graphics. Unlike other S24 models, which use different chipsets depending on their region, every Galaxy S24 Ultra uses a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, so you're guaranteed the best Android performance no matter where you live in the world.
Battery life: Besides its stellar performance, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 also manages power well, helping the S24 Ultra last for 16 hours and 45 minutes on our battery test. Wired charging speeds remain at 45W, which is good but slower than the OnePlus 12 and its 80W charging speeds.
Value for money: Though its price has gone up by $100 over the previous generation, you still get what you pay for with the Galaxy S24 Ultra. especially if you can find a lower price through the best Galaxy S24 Ultra deals. Seven years of software and security updates helps justify the cost.
Read the full review: Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
| Attributes | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Price | A price hike drives up the cost to $1,299 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Cameras | Great hardware and AI-powere software produce excellent shots | ★★★★☆ |
| Performance | The performance gap with the iPhone has finally been closed | ★★★★★ |
| Battery life | The S24 Ultra lasts all day and more on a charge | ★★★★★ |
The best phone under $500
✅ You don't want to pay more then $500: Despite rumors to the contrary, Google held the U.S. price of the Pixel 8a to $499, the same as the Pixel 7a.
✅ You want excellent cameras for the money: The Pixel 8a has the same camera setup on the Pixel 7a, but that's not a bad thing. You still get great photos.
✅ You want the latest Tensor features: Because it uses the Tensor G3 found in the Pixel 8 phones, the Pixel 8a has the same AI-powered capabilities, including Magic Editor.
❌ You want the latest hardware: The Pixel 9 phones are coming out this fall, and they'll likely feature a Tensor G4 that introduces even more AI features.
❌ You want a fast-charging phone: While the Pixel 8a features better battery life than before, it still charges at a relatively pokey 18W.
❌ You want a phone with more performance muscle: The Tensor G3 may be smart, but it's not as speedy as top-performing silicon from Qualcomm found in other Android phones.
📱 The Pixel 8a is a worthy addition to the A series, with excellent cameras for a budget phone. With better battery life than before and extended software support, Google's midrange phone is a even better bargain than before. ★★★★
What you need to know
For years, Google's Pixel A phones have the midrange models to turn to if you want flagship features for hundreds of dollars less. The Pixel 8a continues that tradition with the AI features and top-performing cameras you've come to expect, but with battery life improvements and extra software support thrown in. Even the display has been improved, matching the Pixel 8 for brightness and refresh rate.
Cameras: You'll find the same cameras on the Pixel 8a as you did on the Pixel 7a, and photo processing capabilities work the same, too. While we wish there were more substantial improvements, you can't knock the camera performance of the Pixel 8a, especially compared to other camera phones in this price range. You may not want to upgrade from last year's phone, but people with older phones will still be impressed with the quality of images produced by the Pixel 8a.
Performance: As always, the story with Pixel phones is the AI feaatures supported by the Tensor core on Google's silicon. With a Tensor G3 running the show, the Pixel 8a matches the feature set found on Pixel 8 flagships, with Magic Editor and Best Take photo-editing features stealing the show. But don't sleep on the phone's call management features, either. That said, if you're looking for raw performance power, you won't find it on the Pixel 8a, as Tensor chips lag behind what the Snapdragon silicon in Android phones can provide.
Battery life: At last, Google has made a phone that lasts longer than the average handset on a charge. The Pixel 8a turned in a time of 11 hours and 21 minutes on our battery test, the best result we've seen in a while from a Pixel. We only wish charging speeds were faster, but at least you get wireless charging support.
Value for money: In addition to saving you $200 to $300 for flagship level features, the Pixel 8a also figures to be a phone you can hold on to for a long time. Google now offers seven years of software and security updates, matching the level of support the regular Pixel 8 phones get. With the Pixel 8a, Google is showing other phone makers how a midrange device should be.
Read the full review: Google Pixel 8a
| Attributes | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Price | The Pixel 8a costs the same as the Pixel 7a. | ★★★★☆ |
| Cameras | There aren't any changes to the best low-cost camera. | ★★★★☆ |
| Performance | A Tensor G3 chip puts the latest AI features on this phone. | ★★★★☆ |
| Battery life | The Pixel 8a beats the average smartphone on our battery test. | ★★★★☆ |
The smartest camera phone
✅ You want a smart camera: The camera hardware on the Pixel 8 Pro is impressive enough. But the included AI features turn decent photos into excellent shots.
✅ You want a future-proof phone: Google offers seven years of updates to Pixel 8 Pro owners,including Android updates as well as security patches.
✅ You want a bright display: Past Pixels have taken knocks for dim screens, but the Pixel 8 Pro's display hit 1,526 nits in our testing.
❌ You want blazing performance: The Tensor G3 chipset powering the Pixel 8 Pro excels at AI, but it lags behind the Galaxy S24 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 it still delivers only average battery life.
❌ You want to pay less for your phone: A price hike to the Pixel 8 Pro means the $999 device costs as much as an iPhone 15 Pro and Galaxy S24 Plus.
📱 The Google Pixel 8 Pro is a great alternative to top Android phones, especially if you want a top-notch camera. 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
Long before the Galaxy S24's AI tools grabbed our attention, the Pixel 8 Pro was showing off the power of artificial intelligence in a mobile device. The Google Assistant is both smarter and more human sounding on this Google flagship phone, while smart photo-editing features like Magic Editor and Magic Audio Eraser impress with how they easily handle complex edits. Though it costs more than previous Pro models from Google, the Pixel 8 Pro still a standout phone. Just be aware that Google has a scheduled its next Made by Google hardware event for August 13, where we're expecting to see new Pixel 9 phones.
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. The main camera has a wider aperture to let in more light, improving the quality of low-light pics. 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. And since the Pixel 8 Pro's release, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 has found its way into leading Android phones, further widening the performance gap.
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
| Attributes | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Costs $100 more than its predecessor | ★★★☆☆ |
| Cameras | Hardware improvements plus AI features make for great photos | ★★★★★ |
| Performance | Tensor G3 lags other top chipsets but wows with AI | ★★★☆☆ |
| Battery life | Only average results on our battery test | ★★★☆☆ |
The best value iPhone
✅ You don't want to spend too much on a new iPhone: This is the cheapest brand new iPhone. The new design and colors keep it looking extra fresh.
✅ You want a balance of size and battery life: The iPhone 15 is very efficient, with the older A16 chipset still providing excellent performance.
✅ You want a few best-in-class features: The display is now as bright as the Pro models. And you get a 48MP main camera.
❌ You need a big screen: While some people appreciate the iPhone 15's compact screen, ohers may find it cramped.
❌ You want a fast-charging phone: Apple still hasn't updated the iPhone 15's charging speeds.
❌ You want a smooth display: The iPhone 15 is one of the only new flagships with a 60Hz display. Even cheap Android devices offer 120Hz smoothness these days.
📱 The iPhone 15 is a better value than the iPhone 14. 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. Apple should offer faster charging and display refresh rates. ★★★★
What you need to know
If you don't want to pay iPhone 15 Pro Max or Galaxy S24 Ultra prices, the iPhone 15 provides quite a lot of the same features but for several hundred dollars less — especially after Apple raised the price of the Pro Max by $100. While it's frustrating to see iPhone 15 features like the display refresh rate stuck at a pedestrian 60Hz, this is still a great phone for all but the most demanding users.
Cameras: With the addition of a 48MP main camera to this year's entry-level flagship, Apple's unlocked a lot of photography potential in the iPhone 15. The phone can now take more detailed 24MP shots rather than the 12MP standard of previous iPhones. The iPhone 15 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. In our iPhone 15 vs. Galaxy S24 zoom face-off, Apple's phone held its own.
Performance: The A16 Bionic chipset within the iPhone 15 is still potent, even if it first debuted on 2022's iPhone 14 Pro models. At least the A16 still beats the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 2-powered Android phones on many benchmarks, though Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 phones have since surpassed it. From multitasking to graphically intense games, the iPhone 15 can handle just about anything. While the iPhone 15 will be able to run the iOS 18 upgrade coming in the fall, it doesn't have the chipset that can support AI-powered Apple Intelligence features.
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, compared to midrange phones. But with the iPhone 15 Pro starting at $999 and the iPhone 15 Pro Max costing even more, that $799 price tag represents a good value in Apple World. It's a definite step up from the iPhone 14.
Read the full review: iPhone 15
| Attributes | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Price | A lot to pay, but premium features are worth it | ★★★★☆ |
| Cameras | The 48MP main camera does a lot, but it still can't beat a Pro iPhone | ★★★☆☆ |
| Performance | No longer Apple's best chipset, but still very powerful | ★★★★☆ |
| Battery life | A strong result, especially for a phone this size | ★★★★☆ |
Most affordable AI phone
✅ You want Galaxy AI for less: You get the same Galaxy AI features in a $799 phone as you do in the $1,299 S24 Ultra.
✅ You like compact phones: At 5.8 x 2.8 x 0.3 inches, the Galaxy S24 fits easily into your hand while still providing a 6.2-inch display.
✅ You need a long-lasting phone: The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset allows the S24 to last nearly 13.5 hours on our battery test.
❌ You prefer big screens: Even with a slight bump to screen size, some may find a 6.2-inch display too cramped.
❌ You want a more powerful zoom: While the Galaxy S24 has a dedicated zoom lens — rare for a $799 phone — it only supports a 3x zoom.
❌ You need faster charging: Wired charging remains at 25W for the Galaxy S24. The Plus and Ultra versions support 45W charging.
📱 The Galaxy S24 may not be Samsung's most feature-packed flagship, but it offers a telephoto lens, Galaxy AI capabilities and — in North America, at least — a powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset. ★★★★
What you need to know
The Galaxy S24 delivers the best value among Samsung's trio of new flagships, thanks to its $799 starting price and the fact that it has the same Galaxy AI capabilities found on the pricier Plus and Ultra models. In addition, the S24 makes big gains over its predecessor when it comes to performance and battery life. The S24 will be especially attractive to fans of compact phones, as it's comfortable to use one-handed, even with a larger 6.2-inch display.
Cameras: Very little has changed with the Galaxy S24 cameras compared to the S23, though that's not necessarily a bad thing. Samsung's flagships produce excellent photos, and the S24 was no exception, though some photos turned out a little dark in our testing. Samsung also includes a telephoto lens on its cheapest flagship, something Apple doesn't do with the iPhone.
Performance: North American Galaxy S24 models run on the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, which is good news for Samsung. That silicon produces numbers that surpass Apple's mobile chips in some tests. Elsewhere, S24 shoppers will have to settle for the Exynos 2400 system-on-chip. Our testing found that the Exynos 2400 wasn't as fast as the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 on the same tests.
Battery life: With a time of 13 hours and 28 minutes on our battery test, the Galaxy S24 bests the average smartphone by 3.5 hours. The 25W charging speed is a little disappointing, as Samsung's other S24 models continue to offer 45W charging. More to the point, the cheaper OnePlus 12 charges faster than the S24.
Value for money: It's hard to argue with a phone that delivers both a telephoto lens and Galaxy AI features for less than $800. Seven years of software and security support are even more impressive. Unless you really need a big screen or a more powerful telephoto lens, the Galaxy S24 will more than meet your needs — and you don't have to contend with a four-figure starting price, either.
Read the full review: Samsung Galaxy S24
| Attributes | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Price | You get a lot of phone for your S799 | ★★★★☆ |
| Cameras | Not many changes from previous models | ★★★★☆ |
| Performance | Snapdragon-powered models impress in our testing | ★★★★☆ |
| Battery life | This is a big improvement over the Galaxy S23 | ★★★★☆ |
The best value flagship
✅ You need to charge your phone quickly: 80W charging speeds fully charge the phone in 30 minutes.
✅ You want top Android performance: A very fast Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset keeps pace with the Galaxy S24.
✅ You want to save money: With trade-in, you can knock down the OnePlus 12 price to $699.
❌ You want lots of AI features: Unlike the Galaxy S24 and Pixel 8, AI takes a back seat on the OnePlus 12.
❌ You shoot lots of low light photos: Camera performance is good, but low-light photos look under-exposed.
❌ You're looking for strong water resistance: An IP65 water resistance rating means you can't drop the phone in water.
📱 The OnePlus 12 is the most complete OnePlus offering to date, featuring Qualcomm's best chipset, a triple camera system designed with Hasselblad, speedy wired charging, and the return of wireless charging. ★★★★
What you need to know
The OnePlus 12 can hold its own against just about any Android phone, making it a compelling alternative to pricier handsets from Samsung. OnePlus continues to improve camera performance, while equipping its flagship with the best silicon available to Android devices. The OnePlus 12 is one of the longest-lasting Android flagship phones you can, and the phone features fast charging. A bigger display with impressive brightness completes the package.
Cameras: The telephoto lens can now offer a 3x zoom — it was 2x on previous OnePlus models — as the OnePlus 12 features the fourth generation Hasselblad camera system. Low-light photos turned out under-exposed in our testing, but in other conditions, images looked sharp and well-composed.
Performance: A Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset means the OnePlus 12 can go toe-to-toe with top performers like the Galaxy S24 and not miss a step. On graphics testing, the OnePlus 12 even tops the latest iPhones. The OnePlus 12 has no problem playing demanding games or jumping quickly between apps.
Battery life: Outside of gaming phones, you won't find longer-lasting devices than OnePlus handsets. The OnePlus 12 lasted more than 17.5 hours on our test, where the average smartphone flags around the 10-hour mark. With 80W wired charging and the return of wireless charging, you'll always be able to keep the battery juiced.
Value for money: A $100 price hike over the OnePlus 11 is a bit of a bummer, but at least a very liberal trade-in program wipes out that price hike, bringing the OnePlus 12 down to a bargain $699. That's $100 less than the Galaxy S24 and $300 cheaper than the Galaxy S24 Plus.
Read the full review: OnePlus 12
| Attributes | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Even at $799, the OnePlus 12 is a good value | ★★★★☆ |
| Cameras | Low-light shooting could be better | ★★★☆☆ |
| Performance | Speed can match any Android phone | ★★★★☆ |
| Battery life | A long-lasting battery can be charged up very quickly | ★★★★★ |
The best compact flagship phone
✅ You have a budget of around $1,000: The iPhone 15 Pro has most of the iPhone 15 Pro Max's features for $200 less.
✅ You want a tough design: Titanium sides makes for a strong phone that's lighter than previous stainless steel iPhone Pro models.
✅ You are a photography fan: The phone particularly shines with portraits and shooting in low-light settings.
❌ 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.
❌ You want the best iPhone cameras around: The iPhone 15 Pro Max features a 5x zoom instead of the iPhone 15 Pro's 3x telephoto lens.
❌ You need fast charging: The 20W speeds Apple offers just don't compare to faster-charging Android phones.
📱 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. ★★★★
1. The best iPhones
2. iPhone 15 Pro vs. iPhone 15 Pro Max: All the big differences
3. Best unlocked iPhones
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 — and more expensive — device like the iPhone 15 Pro.
Cameras: It's a shame that the iPhone 15 Pro only offers 3x zoom, as it's the only thing holding it back from completely matching the iPhone 15 Pro Max at the top of this list. Still, this is a great camera phone that's particularly adept at taking night mode and portrait shots. The iPhone 15 Pro's 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, though Snapdragon 8 Gen 3-powered Android phones do post better numbers in graphics testing. That said, the iPhone 15 Pro is still good for gaming thanks to its ray-tracing capable GPU. Because of the A17 Pro processor, the iPhone 15 will be able to support Apple Intelligence features that bring more AI-powered capabilities to the iPhone.
Battery life: The iPhone 15 Pro falls just shy of the 11-hour mark that splits the longest-lasting phones from the crowd. It has the shortest battery life of any phone in the iPhone 15 family. Don't interpret that as meaning the battery life is bad, though, as the Pro 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 costs $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
| Attributes | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Keeping the price under a grand was a smart idea from Apple | ★★★★☆ |
| Cameras | As good as iPhone photography gets (except for the Pro Max) | ★★★★☆ |
| Performance | With an A17 Pro chip, nothing will slow you down | ★★★★★ |
| Battery life | The battery won't let you down, but it doesn't quite dazzle either. | ★★★☆☆ |
Best Android value
✅ You're on a budget: The OnePlus 12R proves you don't need to spend big bucks on a good phone, as it costs less than $500.
✅ You need epic battery life: With a result of 18 hours and 42 minutes on our battery test, the OnePlus 12R outlasts nearly every phone we've tested.
✅ You want high-level performance: The OnePlus 12R's older Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 system-on-chip still delivers speedy performance.
❌ You're in Europe: The 8GB/128GB OnePlus 12R U.S. shoppers can pick up on the cheap isn't available in Europe. Instead, you're limited to a more expensive model with 16GB of RAM and 256GB of storage.
❌ You need to charge wirelessly: Wireless charging may be part of the OnePlus 12, but it's not on this cheaper model.
❌ You need lengthy software support: Three years of software updates and four years of security support are limited compared to other Android phones.
📱 The OnePlus 12R has outstanding battery life and solid performance. Add a low starting price in the U.S. and you've got an unbeatable value for a midrange phone. ★★★★
What you need to know
The OnePlus 12R is the first R series phone from OnePlus to ship outside of China and India, and if this model is an indication, we hope it's not the last. The 12R is a solid midrange device that retains some high-end flagship features at a lower price. It's one of our favorite phones under $500.
Cameras: Cameras are perhaps the biggest shortcoming of the OnePlus 12R, as it lacks the Hasselblad partnership that's bolsted the cameras on the main OnePlus 12. Phones like the Pixel 7a simply take better photos than what the OnePlus 12R produces.
Performance: The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 inside the OnePlus 12R isn't the fastest Android silicon any more, now that the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 is powering Android flagships. But last year's top silicon remains very speedy and powerful enough to propel the 12R past other phones in its price range.
Battery life: The OnePlus 12R delivers outstanding battery life, outlasting all but one phone that we've tested in the last 18 months. With 80W wired charging, you can top off the battery quickly, but there's no wireless charging on this model.
Value for money: The OnePlus 12R packs in a lot for a $499 phone. We only wish the software and security support ran a little bit longer.
Read the full review: OnePlus 12R
| Attributes | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Price | The $499 model packs in a lot of value | ★★★★★ |
| Cameras | Other cheap camera phones perform more consistently | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Performance | The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 has still got it | ★★★★☆ |
| Battery life | Not many phones last longer than this one | ★★★★★ |
The cheapest big-screen iPhone
✅ 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.
❌ 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
| Attributes | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Cheaper than the iPhone 15 Pro Max, but you'll make trade-offs | ★★★★☆ |
| Design | Excellent shots under most conditions, but no proper zoom lens | ★★★★☆ |
| Performance | A16 Bionic is a year older — and still a top performer | ★★★★☆ |
| Battery life | The longest-lasting iPhone you can buy right now | ★★★★★ |
The best foldable phone
✅ 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.
❌ 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 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
| Attributes | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Price | It's $100 less than the competition | ★★★★☆ |
| Design | Thinnest and lightest notebook styled foldable | ★★★★★ |
| Performance | The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset remains the Android silicon to beat. | ★★★★☆ |
| Battery life | This is the best battery life we've seen in a foldble. | ★★★★☆ |
Longest-lasting phone
✅ You want the battery life champ: N phoneo has ever lasted as long as the 18 hours and 48 minutes that the ROG Phone 8 Pro held out for on our test.
✅ You want a great gaming phone: Besides a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset and 165Hz refresh rate, the ROG Phone 8 offers capacitive triggers and custom gaming software add-ons.
✅ You want a durable phone: It's the first time a ROG gaming phone offers an IP68 water resistance rating, and a Gorilla Glass Victus 2 screen adds to the durability.
❌ You take a lot of photos: While better than most gaming phones, the ROG Phone 8 Pro can't match the output of similarly priced camera phones.
❌ You want lengthy software support: The ROG Phone 8 Pro guarantees only two years of software updates, well short of top Android phones.
❌ You're on a budget: With a starting price of $1,199, the ROG Phone 8 Pro will put a serious dent in your budget.
📱 The ROG Phone 8 Pro is a high-powered device that wouldn't look out of place in the hands of any user. Still, gamers will get the most out of the ROG Phone's powerful processor and battery life. ★★★★
What you need to know
The Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro is one of the best gaming phones we've tested. But it benefits a toned-down design that makes it look like any flagship phone — perfect for people who want to mix business with pleasure while also reaping the benefits of using a long-lasting, durable device.
Cameras: Cameras aren't traditionally a strong spot for gaming phones, but Asus does its best to improve things. We appreciate the inclusion of a telephoto lens and the steady video footage shot by the gimbal-stabilized main camera. That said, similarly priced flagship phones turn out better photos.
Performance: With the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, you'll get the best performance of any Android phone from the Asus ROG Phone 8. You can also load up the device with as much as 24GB of RAM.
Battery life: The ROG Phone 8 Pro approached the 19-hour mark on our battery test — an outstanding time that tops any other phone we've tested. With 65W wired charging, you can top of the phone quickly, too.
Value for money: As good as the ROG Phone 8 Pro is, $1,199 is a lot to spend on any device. We'd feel better about the outlay if Asus delivered more than two years of software support.
Read the full review: Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro
| Attributes | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Adding RAM and storage can get expensive | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Cameras | Decent cameras for a gaming phone | ★★★☆☆ |
| Performance | OG Phone makes the most of Snapdragon power | ★★★★★ |
| Battery life | No phone lasts longer than this one | ★★★★★ |
Battery benchmarks: comparison
| Phone | Battery life (tested) |
| iPhone 15 Pro Max | 14:02 |
| Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra | 16:45 |
| Google Pixel 8a | 11:21 |
| Google Pixel 8 Pro | 10:03 |
| iPhone 15 | 11:05 |
| Samsung Galaxy S24 | 13:28 |
| OnePlus 12 | 17:41 |
| iPhone 15 Pro | 10:53 |
| OnePlus 12R | 18:42 |
| iPhone 15 Plus | 14:14 |
| OnePlus Open | 11:45 |
| Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro | 18:48 |
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.
