Opinionated picks for smartphones. iPhone vs Android is preference, but within each ecosystem there are clear winners.
| Phone | Why |
|---|---|
| iPhone 16 Pro ~$1,000 | Best overall iPhone. Camera control button, A18 Pro, great cameras. 6.3" is the new sweet spot. |
| iPhone 16 Pro Max ~$1,200 | For battery and screen size. Same internals as Pro, just bigger. |
| iPhone 16 ~$800 | Best value iPhone. Gets the action button, camera control, A18 chip. |
| iPhone 15 ~$700 | Last year's model, still excellent. USB-C, Dynamic Island. Best deal. |
| Pixel 9 Pro ~$1,000 | Best Android camera. 7 years of updates. Clean software, AI features. |
| Samsung S24 Ultra ~$1,300 | Kitchen sink flagship. S Pen, 200MP camera, best display. For power users. |
| OnePlus 12 ~$800 | Flagship killer. Great display, fast charging, clean OxygenOS. |
| Pixel 9 ~$800 | Best value Android flagship. Same great camera, smaller size. |
| Pixel 8a ~$500 | Best budget phone. Flagship camera, 7 years updates, clean Android. |
| iPhone SE ~$430 | Cheapest way into iOS. Old design but A15 chip, still fast. |
| Samsung A54 ~$400 | Good mid-range Samsung. AMOLED, decent cameras, 4 years updates. |
| Nothing Phone 2 ~$600 | Unique design with Glyph lights. Clean software, good value. |
| Samsung Z Fold 6 ~$1,900 | Best productivity phone. Tablet when open, phone when closed. For multitaskers. |
| Samsung Z Flip 6 ~$1,100 | Compact foldable. Fits in small pockets, better cover screen than before. |
| Pixel 9 Pro Fold ~$1,800 | Google's take on foldables. Better software than Samsung, larger outer screen. |
| OnePlus Open ~$1,700 | Most usable outer screen. Great multitasking, smooth software. |
| MagSafe Wallet ~$60 | Minimal carry. ID, 2-3 cards, sticks to phone. Find My support. |
| Anker MagGo Power Bank ~$30 | MagSafe battery pack that actually works. 5000mAh, compact. |
| Peak Design Mobile ~$40+ | Best phone mounting system. Cases, mounts, wallets all interchangeable. |
| Moment Lenses ~$100+ | Actual glass lenses for phone photography. Wide, anamorphic, macro. |
20 of 20 phones