Best smartphones 2026
Our pick of the best smartphones, ranked by our independent scores — best overall, best value, best budget and more.
The best phone balances camera, battery and screen against price — flagship and mid-range have never been closer. Here's what to weigh.
Our top picks
Our highest overall score (85/100) in the category.
The best performance for the money at €291.
The smart pick on a tight budget (€289).
No compromises — the top of the range if budget allows.
The biggest screen — 6.7 ".
How to choose
Display & build
OLED is now standard; a 6.1–6.5" screen suits one-handed use, larger for media. Higher refresh rates (90–120 Hz) feel noticeably smoother.
Storage & 5G
128 GB suits most people; pick 256 GB+ for lots of 4K video or games, since phone storage isn't expandable. 5G is standard from mid-range up.
Battery & updates
Bigger batteries and efficient chips get you through a day easily; check the promised years of software updates — flagships now offer five to seven.
How much to spend
Solid mid-range phones run €250–€450. €600–€900 buys near-flagship cameras and screens; above €1,000 is full flagship territory.
Frequently asked questions
How much storage do I need?
128 GB suits most people; pick 256 GB+ if you shoot lots of 4K video or keep large game libraries. Storage usually can't be expanded.
Is 5G worth it?
5G gives much faster mobile data where available and is now standard on mid-range and flagship phones. Check the Network spec.
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