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Géopolitique 👤 Julian Chokkattu

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Save this storySave this storyFeatured in this articleBest Android PhoneGoogle Pixel 10aRead more$499 AmazonThe Smartest SmartphonesGoogle Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro, and Pixel 10 Pro XLRead more$799 $599 (25% off) Amazon (10)The Best Flagship PhonesSamsung Galaxy S26, S26+, and S26 UltraRead more$900 $853 (5% off) Amazon (S26)Best Battery LifeOnePlus 15 and OnePlus 15RRead more$900 $800 (11% off) Amazon (15)The best Android phone means something different to everyone—it's hard to find one that caters to every need. But chances are there's a new smartphone that comes close to what you're looking for. From the bottomless pit of phone choices, my favorite Android handsets include the Google Pixel 10a, Pixel 10, and Galaxy S26 Ultra. All the phones we've selected have advantages, and I've laid them out here based on extensive testing.See our other mobile buying guides for more, like the Best iPhones, Best Cheap Phones, Best Samsung Phones, Phones With a Headphone Jack, Best Pixel Phones, and Best Folding Phones.Updated March 2026: We've added our final thoughts on the Galaxy S26 series.Is Now a Good Time to Buy?AccordionItemContainerButtonFor the most part. While Google won't have another flagship phone until late summer, it just launched the Pixel 10a. Samsung just debuted the Galaxy S26 series, and Motorola will likely unveil its new Razr phones this spring. Prices of smartphones dip during major sale events like Prime Day, Black Friday, and Cyber Monday, so those are often the best times to upgrade if you're hunting for a bargain.Buy an Unlocked PhoneAccordionItemContainerButtonWe recommend unlocked phones in this guide. When a phone is sold as unlocked, that means it can be used on multiple wireless carriers and networks. When you go into a carrier store and buy a phone, usually on a payment plan, it often comes locked to that network, and they'll try to get you to pay for a host of unnecessary accessories and features.Carriers are legally required to unlock a phone upon request so you can switch networks, but it's a big hassle, and they may have terms about how long you have to wait to ask. Try to pay full price for your phone, or make sure it specifically says it's unlocked. Buy it from the manufacturer or a third-party retailer directly, or investigate your carrier's policies for unlocking phones if they're bought on a payment plan that requires you to use its network. An unlocked phone is less of a hassle when you travel and want to switch to an international SIM card, too.Android Specs to Look ForAccordionItemContainerButtonIf none of the smartphones in this guide strike your fancy and you want to keep looking, here are a couple of things to keep in mind as you shop.Display: Gone are the days of shoddy phone displays—almost every smartphone uses an OLED panel now. Cheaper phones still use LCD, which won't have as deep blacks and poppy colors, but even phones under $300 can sport OLED. You'll see some variations, like AMOLED or Dynamic AMOLED 2X, but that's mostly marketing jargon.Screen size: You hold a smartphone all the time, so make sure whatever you pick is the right size for your palms. Most small Android phones are around 6.1 to 6.3 inches (measured diagonally), whereas larger phones typically top out at 6.8 or 6.9 inches.Processor: Most smartphones are powered by a Qualcomm or MediaTek processor. Google phones use the company's in-house Tensor chip, and some Samsung phones utilize Samsung's Exynos processor in select markets. It's difficult to say how reliably a processor will perform without looking at reviews and benchmark results, so do your research. If you're after reliable performance, try to stick to Qualcomm's Snapdragon 7 series or higher, or MediaTek's Dimensity 7000 series or higher. The current flagship chip of 2026 is the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5.RAM: You'll at the very least want a phone with 6 GB of RAM, though 8 GB is better. This will let you juggle multiple apps much more seamlessly. If you want to future-proof your device, opting for 12 or 16 GB will likely allow you to better access new and upcoming artificial intelligence features, though it depends on the manufacturer and how well they support their devices.Cooling: Good-performing phones can be ruined if they get too hot because then the processor gets throttled, causing slowdowns. This mostly applies to folks who game a lot, but it's worth checking whether there's a dedicated cooling system on the phone. You'll want to look for language like “heat pipes” or “vapor chamber cooling.”Refresh rate: Most phones used to come with 60-Hz refresh rates, meaning the display refreshed 60 frames per second. Nowadays, even cheap phones offer 90- or 120-Hz screens. The more frames refreshed in a second, the more fluid everything looks and feels. It might sound small, but it can make a big difference with your smartphone feeling buttery smooth. We have a broader guide that explains this technology further. Flagship phones have screens with variable refresh rates that range from 1 to 120 Hz, meaning they're often more battery efficient (look for LTPO or LTPS).Battery capacity: Smartphone batteries are measured in milliampere-hours (mAh). A big battery doesn't necessarily mean better battery life, because much depends on the size of the screen and other technologies the phone is powering. Most phones should have 4,000-mAh cells or higher, and you typically won't see anything higher than 5,500 mAh. Some phones now have silicon-carbon batteries, a new technology that allows them to be denser but thinner—the OnePlus 15, for example, has a massive 7,300-mAh battery.Charging speeds: Most Android smartphones can charge fast, but certain companies offer shockingly fast recharge times. That's usually because they have a proprietary charging brick you'll need to use. You can find charging speed information on a phone's product spec page. OnePlus phones are famous for recharging fully within around 30 minutes. Just remember that these days, most smartphones do not come with a charging brick, just a cable. We have more details in this fast-charging guide.Software updates: Software support is crucial. It means your phone will stay secure for longer and you'll get new features over time. Even if you trade in your phone, that device may end up in the hands of someone else, and a long update policy means the phone will continue to be supported. The gold standard in Android is 7 years right now, thanks to Samsung and Google. However, if you have a cadence of replacing your phone every 2 or 3 years, then the lesser update policies of other Android phone makers might not be as big a deal to you.Cameras: Camera specs are very misleading. A phone with a 108-megapixel sensor doesn't mean it will take better photos than a phone with a 50-MP sensor. The only way to really know is to look at reviews. What you can do, if the camera is important to you, is check if there's a versatile system. The best camera phones offer a primary wide camera, an ultrawide, and a telephoto zoom (usually at 5X zoom). Cheap phones tend to come with a lot of cameras, many of which are useless.Extra features: It's important not to overlook the smaller features you may expect. Does the phone have a near-field communication sensor (NFC) so you can make contactless payments? Does it have a good IP rating that can survive a drop in the pool? You'll want IP67 or IP68! Is there wireless charging (Qi2 or Qi?)? What about a microSD card slot, dual-SIM tray, or headphone jack? Make sure you vet the phone's tech specs if you're after something specific.5G service: Nearly all smartphones support 5G, the current generation of network connectivity. 4G LTE isn't disappearing, and you may still fall back to LTE when 5G isn't available. Avoid smartphones that do not offer 5G at all.How to Switch Between PhonesAccordionItemContainerButtonThe best way to switch phones is to follow the setup prompts when you first boot up your new device—make sure you transfer data from an old phone via a cable. It's much faster than doing it wirelessly, though that's an option too. Some manufacturers, like Samsung, will suggest you download a proprietary data transfer app on your old device, like Smart Switch, and you should. It means less work for you—whether it's fewer apps you need to sign into or fewer icons you need to rearrange. If you're coming from an iPhone, you can use Google's official Android Switch app, though Apple and Google have improved the transferring process to make things smoother.Check out our tips on setting up your new Android phone for more, and our steps on how to back up an Android and how to factory reset it.How We Test SmartphonesAccordionItemContainerButtonI put my personal SIM card in every smartphone I test and use it for at least a week, if not two or three. I stress-test performance by playing mobile games and running benchmark tests, like Geekbench and Antutu, while also monitoring thermals. I make calls to test the smartphone's microphone quality, since, you know, it's still a phone.I often do camera testing by bringing a competing phone along and analyzing photos side by side on a larger, more color-accurate screen. I've been reviewing smartphones for close to a decade—not just the flagship devices either. I'm always testing cheap phones to see what innovations are trickling down.Best Android PhonePhotograph: Julian ChokkattuPhotograph: Julian ChokkattuPhotograph: Julian ChokkattuPhotograph: Julian ChokkattuSave to wishlistGooglePixel 10a$499 Amazon$499 Best Buy$499 Google StoreGoogle may not have changed much with the Pixel 10a (8/10, WIRED Recommends) over last year's Pixel 9a—it has the same Tensor G4 processor, battery capacity, and dual-camera system—but it remains one of the best smartphones you can buy for the money, particularly in the US, where there are fewer midrange options.Performance is great, the battery comfortably lasts a full day with average use (you may need to top up in the afternoon if you're a heavy user), and the 120-Hz 6.3-inch screen is bright, sharp, and colorful. The dual-camera system, which offers a main 48-MP sensor and a 13-MP ultrawide, delivers excellent results in various lighting conditions, and there's a decent 13-MP selfie shooter. It also has the niceties you'd want, like an IP68 water-resistance rating and seven years of software updates.So what exactly is different from its predecessor? The screen has higher brightness, making it even easier to read in sunny conditions. The glass that protects the display has been upgraded to Gorilla Glass 7i, so it should better handle scratches and accidental drops. There's Satellite SOS to reach emergency services even without a cell signal, and the Pixel 10a supports faster wired and wireless charging speeds. However, unlike the Pixel 10 series below, this phone does not use the Pixelsnap Qi2 magnetic charging system, which is a shame. There are also a few software features available here that aren't yet on the Pixel 9a, like Auto Best Take and Camera Coach, plus the ability to send files and photos to iPhones through Google's Quick Share to AirDrop feature.Oh, and there is no longer a plastic ring around the camera module, making the back even flatter—great for anyone who hates thick camera bumps. Supposedly, the battery is slightly easier to replace, which is good to know if that's something that needs to be addressed a few years down the road.Consider the Pixel 9a if you can find it for a good deal less, since it's nearly identical. Otherwise, the Pixel 10a is a handsome handset—especially in the berry color—and is one of the most well-rounded smartphone packages on the market for under $500. This is what I think most people should buy, unless you have specific needs, like better performance for demanding mobile games, a big-screen experience, or a telephoto zoom.SpecsDisplay: 6.3-inch, 120-Hz, OLEDProcessor and RAM: Tensor G4 with 8 GB RAMStorage: 128 and 256 GBBattery: 5,100 mAhCameras: 48-MP main camera, 13-MP ultrawide, 13-MP selfie cameraUpdates (from date of manufacture): 7 yearsExtras: Qi wireless charging, IP68, fingerprint and secure face unlock, NFCCarrier compatibility: Works on all three major US networksWIRED/TIREDAccordionItemContainerButtonWIREDGood performanceGreat camera experience with no camera bumpBrighter screenSlick software with lots of smart, helpful features, and 7 years of software supportFaster chargingTIREDMaybe buy the Pixel 9a on sale?Battery life could be betterNo Pixelsnap magnetsThe Smartest SmartphonesPhotograph: Julian ChokkattuPhotograph: Julian ChokkattuPhotograph: Julian ChokkattuSave to wishlistGooglePixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro, and Pixel 10 Pro XL$799 $599 (25% off) Amazon (10)$999 $749 (25% off) Amazon (Pro)$1,199 $899 (25% off) Amazon (XL)$799 Best BuyGoogle's Pixel 10 series (8/10, WIRED Recommends) is an excellent collection of versatile phones with smart features you'll find helpful in your day-to-day. They're a leg up over the Pixel 10a, with a more powerful processor, better (and more) cameras, and they're the first flagship Android phones with native Qi2 wireless charging support, meaning you can use a wealth of MagSafe accessories. There are three devices in the lineup, all powered by the Tensor G5 chipset, which shows a considerable processing boost over the G4 in the Pixel 9 series and Pixel 10a.The Pixel 10 is a significantly better value than its predecessor and a worthwhile consideration if you're looking for a bit more than what the Pixel 10a offers. There's a 5X optical zoom camera, a rarity at this $799 price, and while the main and ultrawide cameras are similar to the Pixel 10a, there's an improved image-processing pipeline that'll deliver better results. Plus, the front camera has autofocus, so selfies are sharper. The speaker is louder, too. Overall, it's one of the best phones you can buy under $800.The Pixel 10 Pro and Pixel 10 Pro XL step things up with more RAM, displays that can go from 1 to 120 Hz, and a new zoned UFS 4 storage standard for faster app load times and a prolonged lifespan. They have a vapor chamber cooling system for better sustained performance under load. The camera sensors are larger than the Pixel 10, so they deliver sharper, brighter images, and they exclusively feature Pro Res Zoom, which uses generative AI to fill in the gaps of hyper-zoomed-in images for stunning results. The Pro XL model has even louder speakers than before, and it's the only one of the lot to support Qi2 25W, which will recharge the phone faster than standard Qi2, provided you use the right wireless charger.What makes Pixel phones a joy to use is the software and the many machine learning capabilities. That includes real-time translations over phone calls, where it'll approximate your voice so Grandma can hear you speak in her native tongue; conversational photo editing; and a Camera Coach that'll help up your photo game. That adds to the many existing features, like Call Screen, which dramatically cuts spam and robocalls. You can even AirDrop with iPhones! Read our Best Pixel Phones guide for everything you need to know before buying a Google phone, and we have some suggestions on what settings to change after setup.Specs: Pixel 10Pixel 10 ProPixel 10 Pro XLDisplay: 6.3-inch, 120 Hz, OLED6.3-inch, 120 Hz LTPO, OLED6.8-inch, 120 Hz LTPO, OLEDProcessor and RAM: Tensor G5 with 12 GB RAMTensor G5 with 16 GB RAMTensor G5 with 16 GB RAMStorage: 128 (UFS 3.1) and 256 GB (UFS 4)128 (UFS 3.1), 256 (UFS 4), 512 GB, and 1 TB (Zoned UFS 4)256 (UFS 4), 512 GB, and 1 TB (Zoned UFS 4)Battery: 4,970 mAh4,870 mAh5,200 mAhCameras: 48-MP wide, 13-MP ultrawide, 10.8-MP telephoto (5X), 10.5-MP selfie camera50-MP wide, 48-MP ultrawide, 48-MP telephoto (5X), 42-MP selfie camera50-MP wide, 48-MP ultrawide, 48-MP telephoto (5X), 42-MP selfie cameraUpdates: 7 years7 years7 yearsExtras: Pixelsnap Qi2 wireless charging, fingerprint and secure face unlock, IP68, NFC, VPNPixelsnap Qi2 wireless charging, Pro Res Zoom, 8K video recording with Video Boost, fingerprint and secure face unlock, IP68, NFC, VPNPixelsnap Qi2 25W wireless charging, Pro Res Zoom, 8K video recording with Video Boost, fingerprint and secure face unlock, IP68, NFC, VPNCarrier compatibility: Works on all three major US networksWorks on all three major US networksWorks on all three major US networksWIRED/TIREDAccordionItemContainerButtonWIREDGood performanceQi2 supportSolid battery lifeExcellent camerasLong software supportLots of helpful smart featuresPlayful OS redesignTIREDGenerative AI overloadeSIM only (in the US)Secure face unlock still doesn't work in low lightThe Best Flagship PhonesPhotograph: Julian ChokkattuPhotograph: Julian ChokkattuPhotograph: Julian ChokkattuPhotograph: Julian ChokkattuSave to wishlistSamsungGalaxy S26, S26+, and S26 Ultra$900 $853 (5% off) Amazon (S26)$1,100 Amazon (S26+)$1,300 Amazon (Ultra)$900 Samsung (All)If you want top-of-the-line performance from your smartphone—maybe you play a lot of demanding mobile games—then I suggest sticking with the smartphone stalwart, Samsung. The Galaxy S26 and Galaxy S26+ (7/10, WIRED Recommends) are the base models that largely differ in screen size and battery life (there are some minor differences, like faster charging and 5G mmWave support on the S26+). The Galaxy S26 Ultra (8/10, WIRED Recommends) is the crown jewel, and this year its sparkling feature is the new Privacy Display.This is a hardware-level change—exclusive to the Ultra—that lets you hide the content on your screen from the people around you, just like a traditional third-party privacy screen protector. It's fairly effective with no major hit to brightness or image clarity, and there's a Max Privacy mode that makes it even tougher for neighbors to sneak a glance. You can set it to turn on automatically for incoming notifications or specific apps, which is more helpful than you'd expect.Performance is excellent, especially with demanding games; these Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5-equipped phones satisfy, even more so than the Pixel 10 series. The Ultra's higher price means you also get extras like the integrated S Pen stylus, better thermals, wider apertures on a few of the cameras for brighter images, and an additional 5X optical zoom camera (yep, it has a quad-camera system!). It also recharges the fastest with a compatible 60-watt charger, hitting 75 percent in 30 minutes. Disappointingly, unlike the Pixel 10 series, you still need a magnetic case to take advantage of faster Qi2 wireless charging speeds and magnetic accessories.If you want a smaller phone but many of the same great flagship capabilities, the 6.3-inch S26 is the option for you. (Horizon Lock is a great new feature across all three phones that enables excellent stabilization when capturing videos.) The Ultra is for anyone who wants the best of the best from Samsung. However, the S26+ has long sat in an awkward spot—yes, you get a nice big screen, but the price is a little too close to the Ultra. You may as well spring for the crème de la crème and get the extra benefits.If you need more help choosing, check out our Best Samsung Galaxy Phones guide.Specs: Galaxy S26Galaxy S26+Galaxy S26 UltraDisplay: 6.3-inch, 120-Hz LTPO, AMOLED6.7-inch, 120-HZ LTPO, AMOLED6.9-inch, 120-HZ LTPO, AMOLEDProcessor and RAM: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 with 12 GB of RAMQualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 with 12 GB of RAMQualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 with 12 or 16 GB of RAMStorage: 256 and 512 GB256 and 512 GB256, 512 GB, and 1 TBBattery: 4,300 mAh4,900 mAh5,000 mAhCameras: 50-MP main camera, 12-MP ultrawide, 10-MP telephoto (3X), and 12-MP selfie cameras50-MP main camera, 12-MP ultrawide, 10-MP telephoto (3X), and 12-MP selfie cameras200-MP main, 50-MP ultrawide, 10-MP telephoto (3X), 50-MP telephoto (5X), and 12-MP selfie cameraUpdates (from date of manufacture): 7 years7 years7 yearsExtras: Qi2 Ready wireless charging (with m

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