Call, text, stream music, check emails, take stunning photos and videos and so much more with a smartphone — and that's just a fraction of what you can do from the palm of your hand. These tiny gadgets not only connect us to our friends and family around the world, but they run on advanced operating systems like iOS or Android to give us access to the Internet and hundreds of applications that make them closer to personal computers than phones.
Whether you're long overdue for a smartphone upgrade or you're debating switching to a new operating system, we're here to help. Our tech experts have rounded up the best smartphones available today, including the latest picks from Apple, Google and Samsung that feature exceptional battery life, superior cameras and much more.
The engineers and product analysts at the Good Housekeeping Institute test gadgets and accessories from the best phone cases to tablets, solar phone chargers and laptops. When choosing the best smartphones on the market, our tech experts reviewed phones for key features like ease of use, battery life, performance, design, camera quality and more. We've been hands-on with more than 20 models in the past two years alone, from flagship smartphones to ones with unbeatable value.
After checking out our top picks, keep reading to learn what to look for in a smartphone and don't forget to brush up on how to clean a phone once you get your new device.
Best Overall Smartphone
Best Value Smartphone
Best Premium Android Smartphone
Best Android Smartphone
Best Flip Smartphone
Apple iPhone 15 Pro & Pro Max
Apple iPhone 15 Pro & Pro Max
Google Pixel 7a
Google Pixel 7a
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
Google Pixel 8 Pro
Google Pixel 8 Pro
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5
How we test the best smartphones
What to look for when shopping for a smartphone
?? Operating system: Before you go out and choose your future smartphone, you'll need to decide which operating system you prefer: Android or iOS. If you're familiar with Apple devices and use a MacBook, AirPods, Apple watch or even luggage tags like AirTags, you'll probably want to stick with iOS for the seamless integration and connectivity you'll have across devices. Plus, only iOS users can take advantage of features such as iMessage, FaceTime and AirDrop. But if you're device agnostic and want to save some money, Android offers a much larger range of smartphones to choose from a variety of manufacturers. However, software support (which includes security and OS upgrades) may be a bit more limited depending on the device you choose, meaning you'll have to upgrade phones more frequently to have the latest software and optimal functionality.
?? Cameras: Most of us snap photos and videos from our phones as opposed to larger cameras. If that sounds like you, you'll want to opt for a smartphone with multiple lenses — one primary wide lens and one ultra-wide lens. Many more premium smartphones, like the iPhone 15 Pro and Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, will feature a third telephoto lens that improves zoom capabilities. You'll want to choose a phone with high-quality lenses that not only let in light and capture details in rich colors, but ones that perform well in low-light situations and feature image stabilization. Typically, the more expensive the phone, the better the camera.
?? Battery life: A larger phone typically means a larger battery life for both Androids and iPhones. Though most flagship phones feature some of the best battery life you can get from a smartphone, you should always expect at least a full day's worth of battery life from your phone, which you'll then recharge at night.
?? Other features: Choose a higher amount of phone storage if you have a lot of photos, videos, apps and music on your phone. Most users will be satisfied with at least 128GB, but opt for more if you want some extra wiggle room and rather not rely on cloud storage. Consider a phone with high refresh rates (at least 120Hz) if you like to stream movies on your phone or play games. This will make the phone fast, zippy and responsive. And while most phones these days are constructed to be quite durable, our pros always suggest protecting your new device with a phone case and screen protector.
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