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Buying a phone can be complicated. Whether you want a standard slab-style smartphone, a modern folding phone, or a simple feature phone, there are many small but important factors to consider before you choose. PCMag can help you sort through all the noise since we've been covering cell phones for at least three decades. Currently, four phones stand out even among our Editors' Choice winners: the Apple iPhone 16 with its great mix of features for the price, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra with its artist-friendly S Pen, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 with its expansive inner screen, and the Google Pixel 8a for its superb value. But all the phones here deserve your attention, so make sure to explore our full reviews linked below. Further down, we walk you through everything you need to know to pick the best device for your needs.
Our Top Tested Picks
Google Pixel 8a
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
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- RELATED:
- Best Android Phones
- Best iPhones
- Best Cheap Phones
- Best Camera Phones
- Best 5G Phones
- Best Phones for Seniors
Best iPhone for Most People
Apple iPhone 16
- Most affordable iPhone 16 model
- High-quality hardware
- Swift performance
- Sharp camera quality
- Good battery life
- Supports Apple Intelligence
- 60Hz display
There isn't too much of a difference this year between the iPhone 16 and the Pro models. The 16 has the same Action Button and Camera Control as the 16 Pro, as well as a generational jump in processor and memory to power Apple Intelligence. Together with good battery life, fast charging, modern radios, and high-quality hardware, it's a near-total package. Sure, some power users might want the video tools on the Pro models, but the iPhone 16 is the better value proposition.
This is by far the best iPhone for most people. It's got almost all of the features of the Pro models for hundreds of dollars less.
Best Midrange Android Phone
Google Pixel 8a
- Excellent cameras
- Powerful performance
- Useful AI features
- Long battery life
- Seven-year software support
- Older protective glass on the front
- Relatively slow charging
The Google Pixel 8a is an excellent midrange value for Android fans thanks to its capable pair of cameras, bright screen, smooth performance, and refined design. It also provides a good range of AI-based photo-editing features, more than 12 hours of battery life in our rundown test, and an IP67 rating against dust and water ingress. We especially like that Google promises seven years of software updates, just like for the flagship Pixel 9 lineup.
If you want premium features and performance for a reasonable price, the sub-$500 Pixel 8a is an obvious choice. The variety of color options (depending on your choice of onboard storage) is also a nice touch for those who want to stand out from the crowd.
Best for Artists and Note-Takers
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
- Speedy performance
- Beautiful screen
- Terrific cameras
- Useful AI features
- Comes with S Pen stylus
- Long support commitment
- Big
- Expensive
The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra offers superb specs including a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy processor, up to 1TB of storage and 12GB of RAM, and the best camera stack you can get on an Android phone in the US. The built-in S Pen stylus is another significant point in its favor, particularly for artists and note-takers who like to sketch or jot on the run. Let's not forget Samsung's powerful productivity software, which lets you multitask with ease.
If you want 5x telephoto zoom power, a 200MP main camera, good battery life, top performance, and a built-in stylus, the S24 Ultra is the phone for you.
Best Folding Phone
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6
- Improved, more durable design
- Wider cover screen
- Excellent cameras
- Blazing performance
- Bright displays
- Long software support window
- Very expensive
- Lagging charging speeds
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 is the best large-screen foldable yet. It's lighter and more compact than the Z Fold 5, for instance, but still provides a larger cover screen. We also like the improved IP48 rating against the elements and Samsung's commitment to seven years of software support. Multitasking features, S Pen stylus compatibility, excellent 5G and Wi-Fi radios, and a powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy processor all go a long way to justify its admittedly high price.
If you are looking for an all-in-one solution for mobile productivity and entertainment, the Z Fold 6 is currently your best option. No other phone we've tested is as versatile and powerful.
Best Android Phone for Most People
Google Pixel 9
- Excellent cameras
- Useful and fun AI features
- Good performance
- Competitively priced
- Limited storage
- Doesn't include Gemini Live subscription
The Pixel 9 offers most of the same features as the Pixel 9 Pro for $200 less. It has a top-notch build quality and features incredibly powerful, AI-enhanced image and video editing tools (such as Magic Eraser and Add Me) that take its cameras to the next level. It also stands out for its unique color options and Gemini-powered assistant that can help out with everyday tasks.
If you enjoy mobile photography or want a clean Google software experience, the Pixel 9 is the Android phone to get. People who don't upgrade their phones often should appreciate Google's promised seven years of OS updates.
Best Affordable Android Phone
Samsung Galaxy A15 5G
- Affordable
- Long battery life
- Competent cameras
- Excellent software upgrade policy
- No IP rating
- Plastic build
The Samsung Galaxy A15 5G is an excellent value for under $200. Highlights include a large 90Hz screen, a good camera system, and a guarantee of four years' worth of security updates. It's not as tough as pricier phones, nor does it perform as well, but you can't ask for more given the low price.
If your budget is limited, the Galaxy A15 5G is an excellent choice thanks to its good everyday usability, above-average cameras, and long battery life. Midrange models outgun it, but it's easily the best Androoid phone under $200.
Best Voice Phone
TCL Flip 2
- Affordable
- Long battery life
- Clear earpiece and speakerphone
- Wi-Fi connectivity
- Email access
- Can't download additional apps
- Poor cameras
The TCL Flip 2 is a great voice phone with approximately 14 hours of talk time, a removable battery, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and a USB-C charging port. It also features a 2MP camera, which is useful in a pinch. Finally, Wi-Fi connectivity and email access can help keep you in the communications loop.
If you aren't interested in owning a smartphone, the affordable TCL Flip 2 performs basic phone functions confidently. The speakerphone and earpiece sound quite clear, too.
Most Powerful iPhone
Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max
- Leading video features
- Outstanding battery life
- Large, bright screen
- Strong connectivity
- Exceedingly large
- Pricey
The iPhone 16 Max is packed with everything Apple has to offer. It has a bigger screen, its battery lasts significantly longer, a Camera Control button provides more creative flexibility and upgraded radios mean faster wireless performance. It also has advanced video capture tools that are some of the best available on any phone. When Apple Intelligence arrives later this year, it will be the most powerful phone running it.
Simply put, this is the best iPhone for anyone who wants all the latest features and the best video camera you can get.
Best Flip Phone
Motorola Razr+ (2024)
- Top-notch display
- Helpful outer screen
- Waterproof
- Stylish and easy to use
- Cameras are only average
- Limited AI features at launch
The Motorola Razr+ embraces its dual-screen design in a way many alternatives don't; you can run virtually any app you want on either the vivid 4.0-inch outer display or the expansive 6.9-inch inner panel. Its IPX8 waterproof rating, stylish design, competitive performance, and fast 45W wired charging are also highlights. Best of all, the Razr+ costs $100 less than Samsung's Galaxy Z Flip 6.
If you want a small folding phone that encourages you to unlock it less often, the Razr+ is a top pick. Fashion-conscious buyers are sure to appreciate its unique vegan leather backing, too.
Best Alternative to Google and Samsung
OnePlus 12
- Bright, crisp display
- Excellent battery life
- Rapid wired and wireless charging
- Powerful processor
- Lacks mmWave 5G
- Not as waterproof as competing phones
- No special AI features
If you want a top Android phone that's not from Google or Samsung, the OnePlus 12 is an excellent option. This $799 flagship meets the Pixels and Galaxies spec for spec with an outstanding display, solid battery life, and capable cameras. OnePlus also promises software updates for years to come.
This is the phone for flagship seekers who want more individuality from their handset. OnePlus has a design language all its own and thoughtful software tweaks that set its phones apart from other Android devices.
Which Cell Phone Carrier Has the Best Coverage?
Despite all the recent hardware and mobile software innovations, choosing a wireless service provider remains the most important decision. No matter what device you buy, it's a paperweight unless you have reliable wireless coverage. You should choose a carrier that offers fair prices and provides the best coverage in your area.
If you're interested in performance and you live in a metro area, pay the most attention to where the major carriers have "mid-band" 5G (also called C-band) and use phones that support that technology.
UScellular is available only in about half the country as of now, though T-Mobile's in-progress acquisition of UScellular will certainly change things if it wins government approval. Meanwhile, Dish now says it covers the majority of the country.
There are also plenty of virtual operators that use the big three networks for service but offer lower monthly rates, cheaper international calls, or other benefits. They're typically better for less intensive users, and some don't even have family plans.
Mint Mobile (on T-Mobile), Consumer Cellular (on AT&T), and Spectrum Mobile (on Verizon) all got higher ratings in our Readers’ Choice survey than the companies that host their services.
AT&T owns Cricket, Dish owns Boost Mobile, T-Mobile owns Metro by T-Mobile and Mint Mobile, Verizon owns Visible, and Google owns Google Fi (which also runs on T-Mobile). Verizon owns Simple Mobile, Straight Talk, Total Wireless, and Tracfone, as well. We spotlight some of our favorite virtual operators in our roundup of the best cheap phone plans. We also have a story on the best cheap phones.
Do You Need a 5G Phone?
5G arrived in 2019, and most new smartphones now support some form of it. Though 5G has yet to change everything, it's still well on its way.
If you're on T-Mobile, you should use a mid-band 5G-compatible phone. That's an easy choice—all T-Mobile 5G phones are mid-band-compatible now.
What Is 5G?
AT&T has made big strides in deploying its C-band network. It has been studiously installing a form of mid-band called 3.45GHz, but you need at least an iPhone 14, a Samsung Galaxy S23, a fifth-generation Samsung Galaxy foldable, or a Pixel 7 to take advantage of it.
If you're in one of Verizon's C-band areas, upgrading to a C-band-compatible 5G phone is a good move. The carrier's Ultra Wideband network also offers the super-fast mmWave 5G in select locations. If you are in one of those areas and want to take advantage, make sure your phone has that support.
You can find more 5G recommendations on our list of the best 5G phones.
Should You Get an Unlocked Phone?
Carriers can have confusing service and pricing plans, so unlocked phones are as relevant and invaluable as ever.
Unlocked phones are those you buy from a third-party store or directly from the manufacturer; they aren't tied to a specific carrier. Usually, you can use them with AT&T or T-Mobile. But some popular unlocked phones work on Verizon as well. For the most flexibility, look for a recent Apple iPhone, Google Pixel, Samsung Galaxy S or Z flagship, or high-end Motorola phone. If you use a low-cost MVNO service, make sure your unlocked phone is actually compatible; some MVNOs don't support phones that should work on their networks.
In the past, unlocked 4G phones typically worked on all the major carriers, but 5G phones are different. Apple, Google, and Samsung's 5G phones usually work on every major US carrier, but many other brands either have limited band support or are only certified for specific carriers.
What Is the Best Smartphone?
As more people become accustomed to instant email, web, music, and messaging access at all times of the day, regardless of where they are, smartphones have become almost indispensable. But that doesn't mean everyone wants the same mobile experience. Sometimes, a platform's user interface or app selection speaks to you, and that's all there is to it. With that in mind, and at the risk of attracting flames, let's break it down as well as we can for those who aren't so fully vested.
There's actually less diversity in smartphone platforms and designs than ever. Android and iOS are the two remaining major smartphone platforms, both in US sales and in the availability of third-party apps. The iPhone has a well-developed App Store and some of the best media features. But Apple's tightly controlled ecosystem can feel stifling to some, and iOS isn't always easy to customize or modify. There's far more variety among Android handsets, and Android's open-source nature makes it a tweaker's dream. But it can also mean carrier bloatware you can't remove and less consistent OS updates.
Strictly interested in Android? Head over to our roundup of the best Android phones. Baffled by the variety of iPhones? Here's how to decide which iPhone to buy. And if you want to document the world around you with your phone, we've rounded up the best camera phones, too.
What Is the Best Feature Phone?
Some people still use simpler phones, even though the number of choices is limited. The top reasons to consider these models are their lower prices, ease of use, and often cheaper associated service plans (because mobile data often isn't a factor). There are some great deals for voice-only plans on virtual carriers such as TracFone and Consumer Cellular.
Unlike smartphones, feature phones are a matter of "what you see is what you get." They don't receive software upgrades or run thousands of apps. Wireless network coverage is always the biggest factor, but individual phones can vary in reception, earpiece quality, transmission quality through the microphone, and sidetone (the echo of your voice that helps prevent you from yelling at the other person on the line). A phone with middling to poor reception quality can be almost impossible to use in a marginal coverage area. In contrast, one with excellent reception can make the best of the little signal that's available.
For more, see our picks for the best phones for seniors and our roundup of the best phones for kids.
What's the Best Time to Buy a New Phone?
The best time to buy a new phone is when you need one. If your phone died on the pavement, get whatever is available that best meets your needs. But if you're watching your budget or riding the cutting edge, a little knowledge and planning can save you from buying a phone that's about to be discounted or replaced with something newer and cooler.
For instance, Google's flagship Pixels came out in August. Apple released the iPhone 16 models in September 2024. And Samsung seems to be sticking with its usual schedule of Galaxy S devices in January and Galaxy Z folding phones in the summer. Motorola has been sticking to a May/June cadence for its folding phones, while OnePlus favors January/February for its flagships.
Note that we update this story every time we review a new phone worth a spot on the list, so it changes often. Be sure to check back soon for our latest recommendations.
Dave LeClair and Sascha Segan contributed to this story.
