Best phones: Expert-rated picks from Apple, Samsung and more

Buy a Google Pixel 10 Pro XL on iD Mobile with 100GB data for £39.99/month and £99 upfront

If money is no object, the Pixel 10 Pro XL is the finest smartphone you can buy right now. It combines ultra-premium hardware with the most accomplished software experience you’ll find on any phone, while simultaneously having no significant weaknesses.

Where shall we start? The stylish design and gorgeous 6.8-inch display immediately stand out, while the benefits of excellent durability and IP68 water- and dust-resistance become more significant over time.

The cameras offer the best point-and-shoot photography experience you’ll find on any phone, with video quality not far behind. The AI camera features are hit and miss, with 100x Pro Res Zoom unusable at times, but they can easily be turned off.

Elsewhere, the introduction of built-in Qi2 wireless charging and a new ecosystem of ‘Pixelsnap’ accessories is a big deal for Android. But improved 45W charging and solid battery life mean you shouldn’t need to rely on it too much.

When it comes to software, the Pixel remains unmatched. Android 16’s new Material 3 Expressive is slick and easy to use, while Google is committing to prompt updates for a full seven years.

The Pixel 10 Pro XL is a big, bulky phone that doesn’t come cheap.

Who should buy the Google Pixel 10 Pro XL?

You want the absolute best phone you can buy right now, are willing to pay for it and don’t mind using Android.

Google Pixel 10 Pro XL: Further considerations

Look elsewhere for faster charging and better battery life. If you’re looking for something smaller, consider the Pixel 10 Pro or regular Pixel 10.

Buy an Oppo Find X9 Pro on EE with unlimited data for £55.60/month and £30 upfront

The Find X9 Pro is a stunning all-rounder. If you don’t love the Pixel software experience, Oppo’s latest flagship is your next best bet.

What does it do so well? Pretty much everything. The Find X9 Pro is one of the very few phones with no real weaknesses, unless a five-year Android upgrade promise is problematic.

It sets a new standard for smartphone photography, delivering stunning stills in almost every conceivable scenario. And if you’re willing to buy the optional Hasselblad teleconverter kit, it can deliver zoom photography that surpasses what we previously thought possible.

The phone’s other main highlight is battery life, with a monster 7500mAh cell that delivered the highest-ever score in our usual battery benchmarking test. It can easily be a two-day phone for many people, and if you have a compatible 80W charger, charging is rapid too.

Don’t baulk at the MediaTek Dimensity 9500 chipset, either – performance is every bit as good as the new Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5. With a gorgeous 6.7-inch OLED display, top-class build quality and impressively sophisticated software, it’s hard to fault the Find X9 Pro.

Although the X9 Pro is going to be one of our key recommended phones for quite some time, it’s worth mentioning that for anyone who wants truly unbeatable specs, the even more powerful Oppo Find X9 Ultra has been unveiled, with a global release on the horizon.

Who should buy the Oppo Find X9 Pro?

Anyone looking for the best cameras or the longest battery life of any phone.

Oppo Find X9 Pro: Further considerations

Look elsewhere for the best software support or a more compact design.

Buy a Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra on iD Mobile with 100GB data for £52.99/month and £29 upfront

Samsung’s flagship phone has never felt quite so at odds with itself. There’s no magnetic Qi2 charging, which puts it a touch behind the Pixel 10 and iPhone 17 ranges, and it’s now more expensive than before, making it even more of an investment for true Samsung diehards. However, even with these setbacks, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is still one of the best Android phones around and a true joy to use.

The 6.9-inch AMOLED display remains the most alluring feature – it makes streaming a bit of Netflix or Disney+ feel far more cinematic than it does with other phones. Pair that with the powerful stereo speakers onboard and you’re looking at a true entertainment hub. What you won’t be looking at (from a distance) is sensitive information thanks to the all-new Privacy Display feature.

This incredible bit of tech can black out parts of, or the entire screen, hiding personal texts or banking information that you don’t want others around you to see, and it’s a game-changer for making smartphones safer, particularly as we use them for so many applications. There’s also faster charging, with the S26 Ultra able to top up at 60W over a wired charge, and 25W over a wireless connection.

All of this sits on top of Samsung’s incredible One UI architecture, which has only gotten better in recent years, very much standing tall alongside iOS and Google’s stock Android as being some of the best phone software on the market – even Bixby is useful at long last. What gives the S26 Ultra an extra leg-up is the infusion of Galaxy AI which runs incredibly well, largely thanks to the super fast (and tailor-made) Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy CPU.

Who should buy the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra?

Flagship buyers who want nothing but the best from the latest Android crop, including a world-first privacy display.

Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra: Further considerations

The S25 Ultra can now be found for a lot less, and it’s very similar.

Buy an iPhone 17 on iD Mobile with 500GB data for £29.99/month and £149 upfront

Apple’s shake-up of the iPhone range in 2025 – mainly introducing the Air and a big redesign for the Pros – means choosing isn’t as simple as the last few years.

The ultra-thin Air won’t suit most people’s needs, and the Pro design is more controversial. Plus, those three iPhones are expensive. This year we think the humble entry-level iPhone 17 is the best model to choose.

It offers the best value of this year’s range as the most broadly appealing design and set of features. As usual, owners of the last model – or perhaps even a 15 – won’t feel the need to upgrade, but if you’re coming from an iPhone 14 or earlier, the jump is huge.

It’s an all-rounder with a great screen that’s compact, smooth performance, respectable battery life (now with faster charging with the right adapter), point-and-shoot cameras and twice the starting storage compared to last year – for the same price.

Sure, it’s not perfect as Apple Intelligence is still behind the competition and below our expectations, and the Camera Control button still needs work, but the iPhone 17 can easily be your reliable daily driver for years to come.

Anyone shopping on a tighter budget may be better served by the iPhone 17e, which released several months after the iPhone 17. It doesn’t have the 17’s ultra-wide camera or its 120Hz display, but you still get access to iOS for less, alongside MagSafe compatibility and the super-fast A19 chipset.

Who should buy the iPhone 17?

You want the best value iPhone from the current generation, which also happens to be the most affordable.

iPhone 17: Further considerations

Similar-priced Android rivals have features such as telephoto cameras and better AI.

The OnePlus 15 is a bold, exciting upgrade to the OnePlus 13 that gets almost everything right.

Its highlight is the latest Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 under the hood, which delivers staggering performance that no Android phone can match at the time of writing. Elsewhere, an incredible 7300mAh silicon-carbon battery delivers a full two days of battery for almost everyone.

Super-fast 120W wired and 50W wireless charging complement it superbly, even if Qi2 support still relies on a case. The 6.8-inch, 165Hz OLED display is gorgeous, while the new-look design is a real hit. And OnePlus’ OxygenOS 16 software is highly intuitive and packed with useful features, even if software support is a touch shorter than the best around.

Ultimately, whether you buy this phone will hinge on the cameras. Despite some hardware downgrades, the trio of 50Mp rear sensors all deliver very impressive results, albeit with some small weaknesses when compared to the very best camera phones around.

Whether that’s a dealbreaker for you will depend on how high a priority the cameras are. For the vast majority of people, this is an excellent all-rounder that takes performance and battery life to the next level.

Who should buy the OnePlus 15?

You want a phone that’s excellent in just about every department for under a grand with change to spare.

OnePlus 15: Further considerations

Look elsewhere for the best cameras if that’s really important to you.

When shopping at the high-end of the Android market, you’ve got tons of great phones to choose from, including the Galaxy S26 Ultra and the Oppo Find X9 Ultra, but Xiaomi’s most recent addition to this crowd holds its own. With a starting price of £1,299, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra is quite an investment but one that delivers on almost all of its promises.

Even though the S26 Ultra is arguably a better buy from a software standpoint, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra is far better for those who want to go all-in on camera tech. The upgraded mechanical optical zoom system gives you DSLR-style shots of objects and subjects way off in the distance.

Taking the Xiaomi 17 Ultra to a gig, we were able to capture crystal clear images of the lead singer from reasonably far away, and this was a tall order in a low-light venue. Because the camera system was co-developed with Leica once again, you can tap into Leica photographic styles for a bit of added flair.

The 6,000mAh battery can keep up with all the shots you’ll be taking, as you can easily stretch it to last two days between charges. What lets the phone down yet again is the limited number of software updates, just six years’ worth from the point of launch. Given how expensive this phone is, we would have liked Xiaomi to match the long-term value offered by the likes of Apple, Google and Samsung.

Who should buy the Xiaomi 17 Ultra?

Photography enthusiasts who want a DSLR-style camera in their pocket.

Xiaomi 17 Ultra: Further considerations

It doesn’t match Samsung or Google on long-term software updates.

Buy a Samsung Galaxy S25 FE from Mobiles.co.uk on iD Mobile with 500GB data for £29.99/month and £99 upfront

The Galaxy S25 FE is undoubtedly the best phone you can buy for £700/$700, our upper limit for mid-range handsets.

It offers the premium hardware we’ve come to expect from flagships, with excellent build quality and a gorgeous 6.7-inch display. Its design is almost indistinguishable from the premium Galaxy S25+, including the same excellent main rear and selfie cameras.

With solid performance, strong battery life and 45W charging that’s on par with the S25 Ultra, the S25 FE ticks all the boxes for most people.

But it’s the software that gives the phone a clear edge over the competition. One UI 8 is slick, intuitive and packed with useful features, while the seven years of updates are the icing on the cake.

Unless you need great supporting cameras or a device for demanding gaming, the Galaxy S25 FE is the standout option in a crowded mid-range market.

Who should buy the Samsung Galaxy S25 FE? 

Anyone who wants the best mid-range phone money can buy, especially if premium design and great software are important to you.

Samsung Galaxy S25 FE: Further considerations 

Look elsewhere for a more compact design or a more complete photography experience. The Pixel 9a and Xiaomi 15T Pro are alternatives worth considering.

Buy an iPhone 17 Pro Max on iD Mobile with 100GB data for £44.99/month and £129 upfront

The iPhone 17 Pro Max is the best phone Apple has ever made.

This 6.9-inch behemoth is a force of nature, combining stellar performance with top-class build quality and superb cameras that can rival the best of Android. And while we can’t run the same battery tests, battery life is up there with the very best around.

On the software side, iOS 26 is the most attractive and customisable UI that the iPhone has ever had, while Apple’s commitment to long and prompt software support should never be ignored.

However, the new-look design, complete with a controversial camera plateau, won’t be to everyone’s taste. It’s also one of the largest and heaviest phones on the market right now.

But if you’re looking for a no-compromise iPhone experience and are willing to pay the premium, it doesn’t get any better than the 17 Pro Max.

Who should buy the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max?

You want the ultimate iPhone experience and don’t mind paying for it.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max: Further Considerations

Look elsewhere if you value a more compact or cheaper device, or something that runs Android, of course.

If you’re old enough to remember when the race for mobile dominance seemed to centre around making phones smaller instead of bigger, you may lament the lack of options now that can be comfortably used one-handed. There are still a few options available, such as the Samsung Galaxy S26 and the iPhone 17, but in terms of cramming a true flagship experience into a compact frame, the Xiaomi 17 is the one to beat.

With a 6.3-inch display, you don’t have to contort your hand to reach the top of the Xiaomi 17, and that’s great for when you’re on the move or stuck in a busy train carriage. Even with the smaller space, Xiaomi has crammed tons of tech into the panel, with a 1.5K resolution, 120Hz LPTO refresh and 3500 nits of peak brightness. You won’t feel as if you’re missing out on what the larger handsets can provide.

With the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset onboard, you’re looking at top-of-the-line performance. Although the previous generation Snapdragon 8 Elite CPU was hardly a letdown, everything feels that bit smoother here, which makes gaming feel fluid and engaging. We had trouble hopping out of Call of Duty Mobile during our gaming test, just because of how much fun it is to play on the Xiaomi 17.

Cameras are mostly solid and battery life also outdoes expectations as the 6330mAh cell can still have plenty left in the tank at the end of a long day, and it can be topped up quickly via 100W wired and 50W wireless charging. It’s a shame that, for a phone as pricey as this, you’re only getting five years of OS updates which pales in comparison to even cheaper phones offered by Samsung and Google.

Who should buy the Xiaomi 17?

Fans of compact phones who still want flagship-level specs in a condensed form factor.

Xiaomi 17: Further considerations

Long-term software support is slightly behind Samsung, Apple and Google.

Nothing sub-brand CMF’s second phone might adopt the ‘Pro’ name, but it’s still very much a budget phone. And with a starting price of just £219/$279 (you get more storage in the US), you won’t find a better handset for the money.

What makes the Phone 2 Pro so special? Essentially, it takes most of what made the CMF Phone 1 so good and makes it significantly better, in exchange for only a small price increase.

We’re talking two brand-new camera sensors, with the main lens also significantly improved. For the price, you can expect some of the best photos around.

Add that to a brighter, more accurate display, a nice performance boost and the all-important NFC that was missing from the original (enabling contactless payments), and the Phone 2 Pro has a lot going for it.

The standout, customisable design remains, as does Nothing’s user-friendly take on Android. The three years of OS updates are a little underwhelming, and you don’t get full water- or dust-resistance, but the CMF Phone 2 Pro undoubtedly has a lot going for it.

Who should buy the CMF Phone 2 Pro? 

You want an amazing phone that’s around four times cheaper than many flagships. 

CMF Phone 2 Pro: Further Considerations 

Look elsewhere for a more traditional and more durable design, or longer software support.