Best Smartphone 2026: Award-Backed Picks for Every Buyer
Picking the best smartphone in 2026 is harder than ever — three distinct camera champions, two foldable form factors that finally feel mature, and an Apple lineup that finally caught up on display. Rather than guess, we anchor this list to the most credible annual ranking in the industry: MKBHD's Smartphone Awards. The phones below are the ones that won, placed, or repeatedly contended in 2024 and 2025.
Updated · 7 picks · Rankings reflect MKBHD Smartphone Awards outcomes.
How we picked
Every phone here either won a category at MKBHD's 2024 or 2025 Smartphone Awards, finished as runner-up, or appeared on multiple year-end lists. Rankings reflect breadth of strengths (Phone of the Year > category winner > runner-up). Prices are launch MSRP; check retailers for current promos.
- #1
Apple's base iPhone 17 finally delivered ProMotion 120Hz, an upgraded camera system, and full Apple Intelligence — and took home Phone of the Year at the 2025 Smartphone Awards. For most buyers, this is the most complete, lowest-friction recommendation in the lineup at $799.
Pros
- ProMotion 120Hz on the base model — long overdue
- Strong battery life and the maturest mobile OS
- Best-in-class long-term software support
Cons
- Cameras still trail the Pro tier in low light
- No telephoto lens
- #2
Runner-up Phone of the Year — best for power users
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
Samsung · 2025 · From $1299
Runner-up for Phone of the Year and a category contender across cameras and big-phone use. The S25 Ultra's 200MP sensor, S Pen, and seven years of OS updates make it the strongest spec-sheet phone of the year — and the best Android pick for buyers who want everything.
Pros
- S Pen, 200MP main camera, and the brightest display on the market
- Seven years of Android updates
- Galaxy AI suite is the most polished Android-side AI
Cons
- Large and heavy — not for one-handed users
- Expensive at $1,299
- #3
MKBHD's 2025 Best Camera winner. Oppo's triple 50MP system delivers consistency across main, ultrawide, and 3x telephoto that even Apple and Google can't match this year. If photography is your number-one priority, the Find X9 Pro is the obvious pick — provided you can find it in your market.
Pros
- First non-Apple/Google camera champion in years
- Genuinely consistent across all three lenses
- Stunning AMOLED at 120Hz
Cons
- Limited US availability and software polish vs Apple/Samsung
- ColorOS still has rough edges
- #4
The iPhone 17 Pro placed runner-up to the Find X9 Pro for Best Camera at the 2025 awards, and remains the best iPhone for video creators thanks to ProRes capture and the deepest creator-app ecosystem. Triple 48MP cameras with improved computational pipelines.
Pros
- Best iPhone video pipeline ever
- ProRes, Log capture, and the best app ecosystem for creators
- Reliable, predictable Apple Intelligence integration
Cons
- Camera ceiling outclassed by Find X9 Pro stills
- $1,099 starting price
- #5
2024 Phone of the Year — best deal on a flagship now
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
Samsung · 2024 · From $1299
Last year's Phone of the Year is now a bargain. The S24 Ultra still delivers the S Pen, a four-camera system with a 5x periscope, and 7 years of updates — usually $300+ off list. If you don't need the latest chip, this is the highest value-per-dollar flagship on the market.
Pros
- Now $300–$500 off launch price
- Still gets seven years of updates
- S Pen + great camera system
Cons
- One generation behind on chipset
- Heavy — 232g
- #6
Google's 9 Pro won 2024's Most Improved award and remains the best clean-Android experience you can buy. Tensor G4, the smartest on-device AI features, and Google's signature computational photography. The most predictable, intelligent phone on this list.
Pros
- Best on-device AI features (Magic Editor, Pixel Studio, Gemini Nano)
- Cleanest Android with seven years of updates
- Reliable computational photography
Cons
- Tensor G4 isn't the fastest chip in the segment
- Battery life merely average
- #7
Xiaomi's 17 Pro won Best Big Phone at the 2025 awards thanks to a 6.9-inch AMOLED, a 7,500 mAh silicon-carbon battery, and a 3-inch always-on back display. The most ambitious smartphone hardware of 2025 — if you can buy it where you live.
Pros
- Massive 7,500 mAh silicon-carbon battery
- Innovative second display on the back
- Triple 50MP camera array
Cons
- US availability is limited
- HyperOS is more cluttered than One UI
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best smartphone to buy in 2026?
For most US buyers, the iPhone 17 (winner of MKBHD's 2025 Phone of the Year) is the best all-around pick at $799. Power users should look at the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra; photographers should choose the Oppo Find X9 Pro where available; bargain hunters should buy the discounted Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra.
Which phone has the best camera in 2026?
The Oppo Find X9 Pro won Best Camera at MKBHD's 2025 Smartphone Awards, beating the iPhone 17 Pro (runner-up). It's the first non-Apple, non-Google phone to take the Best Camera award in years.
Should I buy a flagship now or wait?
If you need a phone today, the iPhone 17 and Galaxy S25 Ultra are mid-cycle and will receive software updates for 5–7 years. If you can wait, the iPhone 18 and Galaxy S26 will launch in late 2026, but the gen-over-gen upgrade is usually modest.
About this list
We index every phone that won or placed in MKBHD's annual Smartphone Awards (2014–2025) and surface the strongest matches for this category. Award badges link to the full award history. We earn a commission on purchases via our retailer links — at no extra cost to you.