Best Phones 2026
These are the best phones you can buy in the US and Europe right now, ranked by PhoneRanked score. Every phone on the list is officially sold there and was announced in the last two years, so you won't find outdated picks or China-only imports here.
Updated Top 10 of 239 phones that qualify How we picked
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Top pick
OPPO Find X9 Ultra
Best value
OnePlus 15
Lowest price
Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max
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1. OPPO Find X9 Ultra
Overall9.4- 6.82″ OLED, 144 Hz
- Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5
- 200 MP main camera
- 7,050 mAh, 100 W
- Pro: Two 200MP rear cameras, including a 3x telephoto
- Pro: 50MP periscope camera with 10x optical zoom
- Con: No charger in the box of the global version
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2. OnePlus 15
Overall9.4- 6.78″ OLED, 165 Hz
- Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5
- 50 MP main camera
- 7,300 mAh, 120 W
- Pro: 7,300mAh silicon-carbon battery
- Pro: 120W wired and 50W wireless charging (80W wired in the US)
- Con: No microSD slot or headphone jack
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3. POCO F9 Ultra
Overall9.3- 6.9″ OLED, 185 Hz
- Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5
- 200 MP main camera
- 8,050 mAh, 100 W
- Pro: 8,050mAh silicon-carbon battery with 100W wired and 50W wireless charging
- Pro: 6.9-inch AMOLED display with up to 185Hz refresh rate
- Con: Heavy at 235 g
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4. HONOR Magic8 Pro
Overall9.3- 6.71″ OLED, 120 Hz
- Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5
- 50 MP main camera
- 6,270 mAh, 100 W
- Pro: 6,270 mAh silicon-carbon battery with 100 W wired and 80 W wireless charging
- Pro: 200 MP periscope telephoto with 3.7x optical zoom
- Con: European battery is smaller than the Chinese 7,200 mAh version
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5. Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max
Overall9.2- 6.9″ OLED, 120 Hz
- Apple A20 Pro
- 48 MP main camera
- 5,567 mAh
- Pro: 6.9-inch 120Hz OLED with 3,000 nits outdoor peak brightness
- Pro: Variable-aperture 48MP main camera and 4x tetraprism telephoto
- Con: Starts at $1,299, $100 more than the iPhone 17 Pro Max
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6. HONOR Magic V6
Overall9.2- 7.95″ OLED, 120 Hz
- Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5
- 50 MP main camera
- 6,660 mAh, 80 W
- Pro: 6,660mAh silicon-carbon battery with 80W wired and 66W wireless charging
- Pro: IP68 and IP69 dust and water resistance
- Con: Not officially sold in the US
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7. OPPO Find X9 Pro
Overall9.2- 6.78″ OLED, 120 Hz
- Dimensity 9500
- 50 MP main camera
- 7,500 mAh, 80 W
- Pro: 200MP periscope telephoto with 3x optical zoom and OIS
- Pro: Large 7,500 mAh silicon-carbon battery
- Con: No charger in the box
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8. vivo X500 Pro Max
Overall9.1- 6.85″ OLED, 144 Hz
- Dimensity 9600 Pro
- 50 MP main camera
- 6,750 mAh, 90 W
- Pro: 200 MP periscope telephoto with 3.5x optical zoom
- Pro: Security updates until at least November 2031 and five OS upgrades
- Con: European models have 6,750 mAh, against 7,800 mAh or 8,000 mAh elsewhere
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9. vivo X500 Pro
Overall9.1- 6.36″ OLED, 144 Hz
- Dimensity 9600 Pro
- 50 MP main camera
- 6,510 mAh, 90 W
- Pro: Compact 6.36-inch body with a 3.5x periscope telephoto
- Pro: Security updates until at least November 2031 and five OS upgrades
- Con: Germany and Austria get a smaller 5,300 mAh battery
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10. vivo X300 Ultra
Overall9.1- 6.82″ OLED, 144 Hz
- Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5
- 200 MP main camera
- 6,600 mAh, 100 W
- Pro: Two 200 MP rear cameras, including an 85 mm periscope telephoto
- Pro: Optical stabilization and 4K 120 fps video on all rear cameras
- Con: Not officially sold in the US
How we picked
We rank every phone that is on sale and was announced in the last two years by its overall PhoneRanked score. The score combines display, performance, camera, battery, design, software support and value for money, measured against today's market. Only phones officially sold in the US or Europe are included. Scores are calculated from specs, so every phone is judged by the same rules. Learn more about how we rate phones.
What to look for
Set a budget first
Flagships top this list, but the gap to mid-range phones is smaller than ever. If a $500 phone scores within a point of a $1,200 one, the cheaper phone is often the smarter buy.
Check software support
Recent Samsung Galaxy S and Google Pixel phones get seven years of Android updates, and iPhones usually get iOS updates for six years or more. Longer support keeps a phone secure and helps its resale value.
Pick a size you'll enjoy carrying
Big screens are great for video and games, but a 6.1 to 6.3 inch phone is easier to use with one hand. Check the weight too: anything over 220 g feels heavy after a day in a pocket.
FAQ
What is the best phone right now?
Right now it's the OPPO Find X9 Ultra, with a PhoneRanked score of 9.4 out of 10. The OnePlus 15 and the POCO F9 Ultra round out the top three.
Why isn't the iPhone at the top of this list?
Every phone is scored by the same rules, and no brand gets extra points. The best iPhone here is the Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max, at No. 5 with a score of 9.2. Compared with the No. 1 OPPO Find X9 Ultra, it scores higher on performance and value for money but lower on camera, display, battery and software support. Our score is built from specs, so it can't measure everything an iPhone does well, like video processing, the app ecosystem and resale value. If those matter most to you, an iPhone can still be the right pick.
Where are Samsung Galaxy and Google Pixel phones on this list?
They are ranked by the same rules as every other phone, and no brand gets extra points. The best Galaxy is the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra, at No. 20 of 239 with a score of 8.9. Compared with the No. 1 OPPO Find X9 Ultra, it scores higher on software support but lower on camera, display and battery. The best Pixel is the Google Pixel 11 Pro XL, at No. 38 of 239 with a score of 8.4. Compared with the No. 1 OPPO Find X9 Ultra, it scores higher on software support but lower on performance, camera, battery and value for money. Our score is built from specs, so it doesn't capture strengths like image processing, software features and wide US carrier support. If those matter most to you, these phones are still worth a close look.
Is the most expensive phone always the best?
No. The overall score also rewards value for money, so a well-priced phone can outrank a pricier one. Each phone's page shows its value score in the score breakdown.
Why aren't China-only phones on this list?
This list is for buyers in the US and Europe. Phones sold only in China usually come without Google apps, may miss local network bands and have no local warranty. You'll find them in our ranking of the best Chinese phones, where they are clearly marked.
How often is this list updated?
Automatically. When we add a phone or update its specs, the list is rebuilt within a few minutes. The date at the top of the page shows the last update.