The best smartphones of 2026, according to Consumer Reports

Smartphone sales hit record highs in 2026, with more than 1.4 billion devices shipped globally, yet most buyers make their choice based on ads and instinct, not testing data. Price gaps between flagships and mid-range models have narrowed considerably, while the difference in performance — from battery endurance and low-light camera accuracy to real-world durability — has widened.

Consumer Reports tested 67 smartphones on battery life, display quality, camera performance, and durability to find the 10 highest-scoring models of the year.

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Samsung's highest-scoring model in 2026, the Galaxy S26 Ultra starts at $1,500. Its 200-megapixel main rear camera produces sharp, bright images across a range of lighting conditions, and Consumer Reports' lab tests rated the 6.9-inch display excellent for brightness, sharpness, and responsiveness. Battery life measured 51.5 hours, among the longest CR has recorded, and the phone supports wireless charging. CR praised the Galaxy S26 Ultra's durability, noting it survived 100 tumbler drops and full water immersion without functional damage, and its overall score of 88 is the highest in the 2026 ratings.

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Apple $AAPL's iPhone 17 Pro Max starts at $1,199 and is the highest-tier model in the iPhone 17 lineup. Its triple-rear camera system centers on a 48-megapixel main sensor that Consumer Reports rates as excellent for still photos and video across lighting conditions, and the 6.9-inch display scores at the top tier for brightness, color, and touch-responsiveness. Battery life is 43 hours on a single charge, the strongest result in the iPhone 17 lineup. CR awarded the iPhone 17 Pro Max an excellent scratch-resistance score and noted it survived 100 tumbler drops and water immersion without functional damage, earning an overall score of 86.

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Priced at $1,099, the iPhone 17 Pro shares the same camera system as the Pro Max in a smaller frame. Its 48-megapixel main rear camera and triple-sensor setup earn an excellent rating from Consumer Reports for image and video quality across lighting conditions, and the 6.3-inch display rates as excellent for brightness, color, and clarity. Battery life is 34 hours, which CR characterizes as average. CR notes the iPhone 17 Pro earned a top scratch-resistance score and passed 100 tumbler drops and water-immersion testing without damage, scoring 85 overall for users who want flagship-level performance without the larger 6.9-inch frame.

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At $780, the iPhone 17 is the base model in Apple $AAPL's newest lineup and one of two phones in the top 10 rated at 84. Its 48-megapixel main rear camera is part of a dual-rear system that Consumer Reports rates as excellent for photos and video in daylight and indoors, and the 6.3-inch display earns top marks for brightness, sharpness, and responsiveness. Battery life is 32.5 hours. CR says the iPhone 17 withstood 100 tumbler drops and water immersion in testing without breaking, calling it an appealing choice for most consumers who don't need the extras of the Pro models.

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Scoring 84 alongside the iPhone 17, the Galaxy S26 starts at $900 and is the base model in Samsung's 2026 flagship lineup. Its 50-megapixel main rear camera earned a very good rating from Consumer Reports, and the 6.3-inch display rates as excellent for brightness, sharpness, and responsiveness. Battery life is 46.5 hours, above average for the category, and the phone supports wireless charging. CR's durability tests found the Galaxy S26 survived 100 tumbler drops and water immersion with only minor cosmetic damage, noting its strong battery endurance and compact design as standout qualities at its price point.

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The slimmest model in Samsung's S25 lineup, the Galaxy S25 Edge starts at $1,100 and weighs 5.7 ounces with a 0.2-inch profile. Its 6.7-inch display rates as excellent for brightness, sharpness, and color, and the 200-megapixel main rear camera earned a very good rating from Consumer Reports for image and video quality across lighting conditions. Battery life is 36 hours. CR noted the Galaxy S25 Edge passed both tumbler-drop and water-resistance testing without damage and called it a strong option for Android users who prioritize a slim, lightweight design without sacrificing display quality or durability.

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Photo note: Google $GOOGL Pixel 10 Pro XL shown from the front, highlighting the 6.8-inch display, and from the rear to show the camera bar

At $950, the Pixel 10 Pro XL is the largest model in Google's Pixel 10 lineup. Its 6.8-inch display rates as excellent for clarity, color accuracy, and brightness, and the 50-megapixel main rear camera earns a top rating from Consumer Reports for still photo and video quality. At 8.2 ounces, it is heavier than average, and battery life is 38.5 hours. CR praised the Pixel 10 Pro XL's camera as among the best in the test group for color accuracy, exposure, and detail, and confirmed it passed tumbler-drop and water-resistance testing in full, scoring 83 overall.

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Four phones tied at 82 in the 2026 ratings, and the iPhone Air ranks first among them in Consumer Reports' list at $999. It weighs 5.8 ounces and measures 0.2 inches thick, with a 6.5-inch display that Consumer Reports rates as excellent for brightness, contrast, and touch-responsiveness. Its 48-megapixel rear camera and 18-megapixel front camera both rate as very good for photos, and video from each lens rates as excellent. CR's testing found the iPhone Air earned a top scratch-resistance score and survived 100 tumbler drops and water immersion without any noticeable damage.

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One year old and still ranked in the top 10, the iPhone 16 starts at $730. Its 48-megapixel main rear camera rates as very good for image and video quality, and the 6.1-inch display earns top marks from Consumer Reports for clarity and vibrancy. Battery life is 37 hours. CR noted the iPhone 16 passed durability testing with strong results, earning an excellent scratch-resistance score and surviving both tumbler-drop and water-immersion tests, and calls it a smart investment for buyers who want a top-tier phone without Pro pricing.

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Rounding out the top 10, the Pixel 10 Pro starts at $800 and is Google $GOOGL's premium model in the current Pixel lineup. Its 50-megapixel main camera earns a top rating from Consumer Reports for still images, with results among the best in the test group for color accuracy, exposure, and detail. The 42-megapixel selfie camera rates as excellent and is one of the highest-resolution front cameras in CR's smartphone ratings. CR found the Pixel 10 Pro survived 100 tumbler drops and water submersion without functional damage, scoring 82 overall and earning a recommendation for users who want Google's best-performing smartphone.