Best smartphones of 2026 - buyer’s guide

GSMArena team, Last updated 3 May 2026.

Last updated: May 3, 2026

Welcome to the always-up-to-date GSMArena Smartphone Buyer's Guide where we round up the best smartphones you can buy.

You will find the different categories of phones below with our top pick as a highlight. Click on the category to see the other suggested options.

Flagship phones

Honor Magic V5

Specs

The Honor Magic V5 is, without a doubt, one of the most compelling foldables we've tested this year. It combines an impressively thin and lightweight design with premium materials, a robust hinge, and class-leading IP58/IP59 ingress protection - a rare achievement in this segment. Both displays are large, sharp and feature-packed, with stylus support and Dolby Vision certification, while the nice stereo speakers round out the excellent multimedia experience.

Flagship killers

Xiaomi 15T Pro

Specs

The Xiaomi 15T Pro is a solid all-rounder that's easy to recommend. It is an excellent phone that can deliver impressive value for your money. It offers superb performance, great display, stellar battery life and an excellent camera - meaning top marks in each of the big 4.

Camera phones

Xiaomi 17 Ultra

Specs

Despite the hefty price tag, which is even higher than last year, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra is one of the best flagship cameraphones you can get right now. Just like the rest of the flagship phones, the 17 Ultra has an excellent display, fast chipset, snappy charging and long battery life, although that last bit isn't a given.

Gaming phones

ZTE nubia RedMagic 11 Pro

Specs

If you are in the market for a gaming Android phone with the latest possible hardware and the best battery life, the RedMagic 11 Pro is a great choice. It has a nice display with very slim bezels; it's got the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset with an advanced cooling system; a handful of neat gaming features, including the physical shoulder triggers; and also a massive battery with quick charging.

Battery life champions

OnePlus 15

Specs

The OnePlus 15 runs on the latest and greatest from Qualcomm, handling high loads very well. It has an excellent display, fast charging, chart-topping battery life, and a robust design that's easy to like. Don't forget the smooth and convenient software experience. It's an excellent all-rounder with some camera missteps.

Compact phones

Motorola Razr 60 Ultra

Specs

Once an iPhone mini domain, nowadays the top pick in this category has been a reserved spot for the Moto Razrs. Indeed, the new Motorola Razr 60 Ultra offers a ton of flagship features in its super compact body.

Premium all-rounders

Xiaomi Poco F8 Ultra

Specs

The Poco F8 Ultra has a really long list of positives. The display goes really bright and supports all sorts of HDR. Battery life is indeed great, and charging is plenty fast too. The speakers were a nice surprise - we thought it was going to be all marketing, but the Bose-branded setup is actually quite impressive. The denim-like back cover could be a selling point if you're tired of all phones looking the same and the addition of eSIM support on this model will make it a viable option for travelers.

Midrange phones (around €400)

Xiaomi Poco X8 Pro Max

Specs

The Poco X8 Pro Max is exactly the kind of phone that helped build Poco's reputation in the first place. It offers a well-rounded package with very few compromises and a handful of standout features, all while keeping the price firmly in the "flagship killer" territory.

Midrange phones (around €300)

Xiaomi Poco X8 Pro

Specs

The Poco X8 Pro is the epitome of a flagship killer with high-end specs at a bargain price. It has a likable and durable body, an excellent OLED screen with all sorts of perks and high brightness, capable cameras, amazing battery life, and, of course, impressive raw and sustained performance.

Midrange phones (around €200)

Motorola Edge 60 Fusion

Specs

The Motorola Edge 60 Fusion is the best phone you can get for about €200. It has a durable build, an excellent OLED screen, decent chipset, and solid camera kit and quality.

Entry-level phones

Samsung Galaxy A17

Specs

The Galaxy A17 5G is meant to be a low-priced phone with a decent design and long software support from Samsung, and it’s one of the best entry-level phones you can get.

Best phones by category

Flagship phones

Flagship killers

Camera phones

Gaming phones

Battery life champions

Compact phones

Premium all-rounders

Midrange all-rounders

Entry-level smartphones

Reader comments

Anonymous
30 Jul 2026
6p{

Nice

Nichewo
26 Jul 2026
dWY

Performance, camera, battery, or value... I'd really keep my eyes on the price-to-specs. While Xiaomi definitely screams for my interest, I'd not want any bloatware and spend my time removing it. I'd want a bloatware-free experience,...

van-bdb
12 Jul 2026
nvF

As some anon already replied, Magic 8 Pro Air is defenetly THE compact device of the year. Especially if you pointed at china-only vivo S50 pm, there is no reason to not chose Magic 8 Pro Air here. Also, as a mini cameraphone Oppo X9s Pro should be m...