Havenât you heard? Phones are boring now. And thatâs just fine! Most people buying a new phone just want something familiar that works better than the device theyâre replacing. If thatâs your MO, then youâre sure to find something reliable in my recommendations below.
But even if youâre looking for something a little more extra, youâve got some great options. Theyâre going to be pretty iterative compared to whatever youâre using now â weâre in more of a software era than a hardware innovation cycle these days â but you can find a delightful new device. We finally have a folding phone that feels like the right size and shape, flip phones offer a lot more than just nostalgia, and you can still buy a phone with no fewer than four cameras on the back. Not bad for a boring season of phone hardware.
A lot of people in the US get their phones through carrier deals, and no judgment here if thatâs the route you take â itâs how I bought mine. Just be sure you know what youâre getting into and how many years youâll need to stay on that Super 5G Everything Unlimited Plus plan to keep the monthly device reimbursements coming.
If youâre looking to spend a little less and still get the best smartphone on a budget, you can find something really good for under $600. For those recommendations, check out our guide to budget smartphones.
The best iPhone for most people
Apple iPhone 16
Score: 8
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Where to Buy:
Screen:Â 6.1-inch, 2556 x 1179 OLED, 60Hz refresh rate /Â Processor:Â A18Â Cameras:Â 48-megapixel f/1.6 main with sensor-shift IS; 12-megapixel ultrawide; 12-megapixel selfie /Â Battery:Â Not advertised /Â Charging:Â 27W wired, 25W wireless MagSafe, 15W Qi2, 7.5W Qi /Â Weather-resistance rating:Â IP68
From a hardware perspective, the iPhone 16 (or the 16 Plus) is an easy upgrade choice. If youâre switching from an iPhone 13, 12, or even older, those four or five years of incremental performance improvements add up. But thereâs something entirely new this time around â well, two things: the Action Button and the Camera Control button.
The customizable Action Button, which replaces the mute switch on the left edge of the phone, is a hand-me-down from the 15 Pro series. You can set it to open a particular app, turn on the flashlight, or almost anything else you might want at the press of a button. On the other side of the phone is the Camera Control, which you can use to launch the camera app. With the camera open, it acts as a shutter button with a full press, and a light press brings up other exposure options you can adjust. Even if you only ever use it to launch the camera, itâs pretty handy, and it frees up the Action Button.
The iPhone 16 and its larger 16 Plus sibling use Appleâs A18 chipset, which is in the same family as the 16 Proâs processor. That bodes well for the phones staying on the same software upgrade cycle. They both received Apple Intelligence last fall, which included AI-powered writing tools and notification summaries in its earliest iteration, and eventually grew to support ChatGPT and a new Visual Intelligence feature. But despite the similarities, the regular 16 models lag behind the Pros in two important departments: the screen and the camera.
The Pros come with dedicated 5x lenses and updated main cameras that do a little better in low light. And youâll only get a ProMotion display on the Pro models; the regular 16 features a slower 60Hz screen. Basically every other high-end phone on the market offers a 120Hz display, so thatâs a disappointment given the price. If those two drawbacks donât bother you â and most people probably wonât mind them â then the iPhone 16 makes for a great upgrade.
Read our full iPhone 16 review.
The best Android phone for most people
Google Pixel 10 (128GB)
Score: 8
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Where to Buy:
Screen: 6.3-inch, 1080p 120Hz OLED / Processor: Tensor G5 / Cameras: 48-megapixel f/1.7 main with OIS; 13-megapixel f/2.2 ultrawide; 10.8-megapixel 5x telephoto with OIS; 10.5-megapixel selfie / Battery: 4,970mAh / Charging: 30W wired, 15W wireless / Weather resistance: IP68
The Pixel 10 is an easygoing Android phone that offers some handy upgrades over its predecessor. The addition of Qi2 with built-in magnets is a delight, making it easier than ever to quickly charge up without plugging in. AI features like Magic Cue, which can proactively suggest information based on what youâre doing on your phone, are finally showing promise. And for the first time ever, the base model features a dedicated telephoto lens.
But, alas, thereâs a catch: The Pixel 10 no longer features the same main and ultrawide camera hardware as the Pro. Youâre essentially getting the two rear cameras found in the midrange Pixel 9A, plus a telephoto lens. Still, as a whole, the deviceâs triple camera system produces images that are totally fine. Beyond the cameras, the Pixel 10 features the same Tensor G5 chipset thatâs found in the Pro phones â handy for those aforementioned AI features.
Overall, the Pixel 10 mostly improves upon what made last yearâs Pixel 9 such a solid release. Weâre not thrilled with the downgraded camera, but the addition of Qi2 and a telephoto lens helps to soften the blow. If you can live with the camera trade-offs, the Pixel 10 is still a smart pick for anyone who wants a flagship experience at a more approachable price.
Read our full Pixel 10 review.
The best high-end Android phone
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
Score: 8
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Where to Buy:
Screen: 6.9-inch, 1440p, 120Hz OLED / Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite / Cameras: 200-megapixel main with OIS; 50-megapixel 5x telephoto with OIS; 10-megapixel 3x telephoto with OIS; 50-megapixel ultrawide; 12-megapixel selfie / Battery: 5,000mAh / Charging: 45W wired, 15W wireless, Qi2 ready / Weather resistance: IP68
Samsungâs âUltraâ S-series phone is still your best bet for a maximalist Android phone, even if ultra doesnât quite mean what it once did. You still get four rear cameras â including a 3x and 5x telephoto â a massive screen, and a built-in S Pen stylus. The battery goes all day, the processor is top-notch, and there are AI features aplenty if youâre into that sort of thing. Thereâs just no other phone quite like it.
This year, Samsung removed the Bluetooth features from the stylus. That stings a little, especially considering that the company swapped a 10x zoom for the shorter 5x camera the year before. It still amounts to a great phone, but itâs one of the priciest slab-style phones you can buy, and Samsung seems to be cutting features without adding back any extra value. Itâs still âultraâ alright, but it doesnât feel quite as special as it used to.
Read my full Galaxy S25 Ultra review.
The best phone for around $500
Google Pixel 9A
Score: 8
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Where to Buy:
Screen: 6.3-inch, 1080p OLED, 120Hz / Processor: Tensor G4 / Cameras: 48-megapixel f/1.7 with OIS, 13-megapixel ultrawide, 13-megapixel selfie / Battery: 5,100mAh / Charging: 23W wired, 7.5W wireless / Weather-resistance rating: IP68
Every year, weâre pleasantly surprised by how much Google packs into its midrange Pixel A-series devices. Last year, it was the Pixel 8A, and this year, itâs the even better Pixel 9A. For $500, the 9A offers Googleâs fourth-gen custom Tensor G4 chipset (the very same chip thatâs in the pricier Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro), a brighter and larger 6.3-inch OLED display, and an IP68 rating for improved durability. Plus, you get the benefit of seven years of software updates and security support. What you end up with is a device that delivers fantastic value, especially compared to other inexpensive devices.
The Pixel 9A offers a handful of other features that put it above the pack, like a 120Hz refresh rate, wireless charging, and the largest battery across the Pixel line. It does fall short in a few areas, though â the cameraâs low light performance and Portrait mode could be better. That said, the 9Aâs camera is still great for everyday snaps, and for the price, the device is an easy recommendation as the best in this category.
Read my full Pixel 9A review.
The best high-end iPhone
Apple iPhone 16 Pro
Score: 8
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Where to Buy:
Screen: 6.3-inch, 2622 x 1206 OLED, 120Hz refresh rate / Processor: A18 Pro Cameras: 48-megapixel f/1.8 with sensor-shift IS; 12-megapixel 5x telephoto with OIS; 48-megapixel ultrawide; 12-megapixel selfie / Battery: Not advertised / Charging: 27W wired, 25W MagSafe wireless, 15W Qi2, 7.5W Qi / Weather-resistance rating: IP68
Like all mainline iPhone 16 models, the 16 Pro gained the new Camera Control button, but it got another important update, too: a 5x telephoto lens. In the 15 series, that longer telephoto lens was reserved for the bigger Pro Max model. This time around, itâs on the smaller Pro, too, making it a great option for someone who wants to upgrade without upsizing their phone.
Like the Pro Max, the iPhone 16 Pro uses an A18 Pro chipset designed to support Apple Intelligence, which started rolling out in the fall of 2024. The first update included things like notification summaries and the new glowing-border Siri UI, which Apple centered its launch event on. Subsequent updates brought ChatGPT integration and Visual Intelligence. But donât expect anything radical â at least at first.
Outside of AI, the 16 Pro is a fairly iterative update. The new Camera Control makes it easier to launch the camera and get right to taking photos, and it also frees up the Action Button if you were using it as a camera shortcut. The screen is a little bigger at 6.3 inches compared to 6.1 inches, even though the phone is basically the same size. You can record 4K video at 120fps now. And the new Photographic Styles, which are available on all iPhone 16 models, let you take more control over your photos than ever.
Thereâs nothing here that someone with an iPhone 15 Pro should upgrade for, but itâs an all-around solid device that will please Apple devotees, especially those who prefer a phone that isnât too big.
Read our full iPhone 16 Pro review.
The best flip phone
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7
Score: 8
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Where to Buy:
Screen: 6.9-inch, 1080p, 120Hz OLED inner screen; 4.1-inch, 948p, OLED cover screen / Processor: Samsung Exynos 2500 / Cameras: 50-megapixel f/1.8 main with OIS; 12-megapixel ultrawide; 10-megapixel selfie (inner screen) / Battery: 4,300mAh / Charging: 25W wired, 15W wireless, 4.5W reverse wireless / Weather resistance: IP48
Samsung finally got the memo with the Galaxy Z Flip 7âs cover screen. The companyâs latest flip phone ditches the file folder-shaped look of its predecessor for a 4.1-inch, edge-to-edge display that wraps around the cameras. With more outer screen real estate, itâs easier to respond to texts and punch in a coffee order without flipping open the phone and getting sucked into a digital rabbit hole.
The Flip 7 still makes you jump through a few hoops if you want to run full apps on the cover screen, but once youâve wrangled the settings, it unlocks a lot of convenience for everyday tasks. That said, the cover screen isnât perfect for every app. Sometimes a button hides behind the camera cutout, forcing you to change the appâs window size. But most tasks are a breeze, and opening the phone is always an option.
Under the hood, Samsung swapped out Qualcommâs processor for an in-house Exynos chip, though we didnât notice any hits to performance. The new 4,300mAh battery will last you all day with moderate use, but heavy gaming and hotspot use will significantly impact battery life. The camera system, meanwhile, remains unchanged from the Z Flip 6, which isnât a bad thing. You still get a 50-megapixel main shooter and all the fun flex mode tricks, which are great for capturing candids.
Unfortunately, the Flip 7 still offers no protection against fine particles like dust or sand, which might work their way into the hinge and cause damage. This raises concerns about how the device hold up over time. But Samsungâs beefed-up warranty and repair program can provide extra peace of mind. Plus, with seven years of OS and security updates, the Flip 7 should prove reliable until you decide to upgrade.
Read our full Galaxy Z Flip 7 review.
The best folding phone
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7
Score: 8
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Where to Buy:
Screen:Â 8-inch, 1968p, 120Hz OLED inner screen; 6.5-inch, 1080p, 120Hz OLED cover screen /Â Processor:Â Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite /Â Cameras:Â 200-megapixel f/1.7 main with OIS; 10-megapixel 3x telephoto with OIS; 12-megapixel ultrawide; 10-megapixel selfie (cover screen); 10-megapixel inner selfie camera /Â Battery:Â 4,400mAh /Â Charging:Â 25W wired, 15W wireless, 4.5W reverse wireless /Â Weather resistance:Â IP48
One of our biggest criticisms of the Z Fold series has been that it feels too narrow and cramped when closed. The Galaxy Z Fold 7 fixes that. With a more familiar 21:9 aspect ratio, it no longer feels like youâre holding a TV remote control. The result is a book-style foldable that mostly feels like a regular slab-style phone. Itâs nearly as slim, too, so it doesnât feel as bulky in your pocket.
The Z Fold 7âs reworked proportions make it easier to wield when replying to texts and Slack messages. When you start craving more screen real estate, the device opens to reveal a spacious 8-inch inner display, giving you an entirely different experience thatâs perfect for managing multiple tabs in Chrome and playing games like Diablo Immortal. Itâs great for multitasking â being able to track your Uber driverâs arrival time on one half of the screen while replying to emails on the other half is incredibly useful.
The bad news? The Z Fold 7 costs $1,999, making the barrier of entry very high. It also has one of the largest camera bumps weâve encountered in a phone and doesnât carry a formal dust resistance rating, meaning even a small amount of dust has the potential to cause significant damage to the hinge. Despite these shortcomings, however, Samsung has created a luxurious foldable thatâs thinner, lighter, and incredibly nice to use.
Read our full Galaxy Z Fold 7 review.
Other phones we tested
- The Samsung Galaxy S25 is a very good device, and itâs basically the last small-ish Android phone you can buy in the US. I find the software to be fussier and more cluttered than the Pixel 9âs, so itâs not my overall pick, but itâs a reliable device â and your best bet for a phone that isnât gigantic. Read our review.
- The iPhone 16E is a great phone that makes a lot of interesting trade-offs. Appleâs latest entry-level phone starts at $599 and comes with the companyâs latest A18 processor, USB-C and wireless charging, a 60Hz OLED display, and the customizable Action Button found on Appleâs more premium handsets. The 6.1-inch phone doesnât have MagSafe support or a Camera Control button, though, and itâs limited to a single 48-megapixel Fusion camera (sorry, ultrawide stans). That makes it hard for us to recommend over the standard iPhone 16, even if it does start at $200 less. Read our review.
- The Motorola Razr Ultra 2025 is an excellent foldable that exemplifies what makes the brandâs phones so unique. Itâs one of the best-looking phones you can buy, thanks to its gold-bronze chassis and wooden back. Plus, it features a spacious cover screen thatâs handy for quickly performing tasks without opening the device. However, as much as we enjoy the Razr Ultra, Motorolaâs promise of three OS upgrades and four years of security updates is on the shorter side. Read our review.
- The Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge is an ultra-thin alternative to the big, chunky flagships weâve seen over the past year. At just 5.8mm thick, it packs a 6.7-inch 1440p OLED display with a refresh rate of up to 120Hz, a 3,900mAh battery, and a Snapdragon 8 Elite processor. Despite its thinner frame, battery life is surprisingly acceptable, though it wonât last as long as other flagship devices. The S25 Edge also lacks a telephoto camera, so itâs not the best phone for portrait photos. Read our review.
- The OnePlus 13R stands out in two key ways: battery life and screen. The 6.78-inch OLED display has a variable refresh rate of up to 120Hz and a resolution of 1264 x 2780, both of which are great specs for a midrange phone. Meanwhile, its 6,000mAh battery can last for a long time â most people are likely to squeeze out two days before the device needs to be recharged. That said, the 13R lacks features like wireless charging and more robust water resistance, and OnePlus is only promising four major OS upgrades and six years of security updates, which is fewer than the seven years of OS upgrades on the Google Pixel 9A. Read our review.
- The Nothing Phone 3 is the brandâs âfirst true flagship phone,â with a 6.67-inch OLED screen, a Snapdragon 8S Gen 4 chip, and a 5,150mAh battery. It also features four cameras â three on the back and one on the front â all of which are 50 megapixels. Additionally, the Phone 3 ditches Nothingâs signature light strips for a small dot-matrix LED display on the back, which can display images or emoji tied to specific apps and contacts. Read our review.
- The Pixel 9 Pro Fold is an impressive sophomore effort from Google. Like the Z Fold 7, the outer screen matches the dimensions of a regular slab-style phone, while the inner screen is great for multitasking. The whole package is also light enough that it sometimes doesnât feel like youâre holding a foldable, though it does suffer from a slightly downgraded camera system compared to other Pixel 9 devices. Thereâs also no formal dust resistance, so long-term durability remains a concern. Read our review.
- The Pixel 10 Pro is Googleâs most refined flagship yet, blending a premium design with meaningful hardware upgrades like the Tensor G5 chip and Pixelsnap wireless charging. Magic Cue delivers genuinely useful on-device AI that can surface helpful info in real-time, while the cameraâs portrait mode is much improved over its predecessor. Battery life is just average, though, and some AI features still feel like theyâre being shoved into corners of the device where it doesnât really need to be. Most readers will be better served by the cheaper Pixel 10. Read our review.
Whatâs coming next
- Googleâs Pixel 10 Pro Fold is the first foldable to earn an IP68 rating, meaning it offers robust water and dust resistance. The device also features Googleâs new Tensor G5 chipset, improved inner and outer displays, and Pixelsnap wireless charging. We got a brief hands on with the 10 Pro Fold following its announcement, though weâre not ready to share a final verdict until weâve performed more extensive real world testing. For now, you can preorder the base 256GB model at Amazon, Best Buy, or directly from Google starting at $1,799, with a release to come on Thursday, October 9th.
- At its fall hardware keynote, Apple announced the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, and the slimmed down iPhone Air. The Air is Appleâs thinnest device yet at 5.6mm, while the entry-level iPhone 17 got an upgraded 6.3-inch ProMotion display, making it a really great deal. Meanwhile, the Pro models boast a powerful A19 Pro chip and a three-camera system â all of which are 48-megapixels. The 17 Pro Max also features the biggest battery ever in an iPhone, promising up to 39 hours of video playback. The latest iPhones are available to preorder now, with a launch set for Friday, September 19th.
Update, September 15th: Adjusted pricing / availability, added the Google Pixel 10 as the âbest Android phone for most people,â and added insights for the Pixel 10 Pro, Pixel 10 Pro Fold, and the 2025 iPhone lineup. Brandon Russell also contributed to this post.
This post highlights some exciting options for phones with great screens! It’s always interesting to see which models stand out for screen time. Looking forward to reading more about the recommendations!
explore how screen quality can enhance our overall experience. It’s fascinating to think about how advancements in display technology can impact everything from gaming to reading. Plus, considering battery life alongside screen quality is crucial for making the best choice!
I completely agree! The quality of a phone’s screen really does impact everything from gaming to reading. Plus, features like blue light filters can make a big difference in reducing eye strain during long screen sessions.
Absolutely, a high-quality screen can make a huge difference in your overall experience. It’s interesting how much advancements in display technology have improved things like battery life and eye comfort too. Have you noticed any specific features that stand out to you?
You’re right! A high-quality screen really enhances everything from watching videos to reading. Itâs also worth considering how features like blue light filters can help reduce eye strain during long screen time sessions.