Smartphones
Current flagship and mid-range phones.
The best smartphone, according to professional reviewers, is the Apple iPhone 17 Pro: critic score 94 out of 100 from 4 reviews, 4 of them positive. Most praised: picture quality and performance. Most common complaint: price.
Apple iPhone 17 Pro
4 professional reviewers tested the Apple iPhone 17 Pro, and 4 recommend it. Most praised: picture quality and performance. Most common complaint: price.
The catch: Costs $1,099 after a price increase, with modest gains over the 16 Pro.
Early score: only 4 professional reviews so far. Expect it to move as more reviews come in.
2 of these 4 outlets print no score. We estimated theirs from the review text and corrected for the known tendency of estimates to run high.
We earn a commission if you buy through this link. It never changes a score.
Not the Apple iPhone 17 Pro? Pick by situation
How do they compare?
| Product | Score | Reviews | Agreement | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apple iPhone 17 Pro | 94 | 4 (early) | Medium | Best overall |
| Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 | 86 | 4 (early) | Medium | Best foldable |
| Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra | 85 | 14 | Low | Best camera range |
| Apple iPhone Air | 79 | 19 | Medium | Best for slim design |
Not scored yet
We publish a score only once at least 4 professional reviews of the exact model exist.
- Apple iPhone 17 · 1 of 4 reviews needed
- Apple iPhone 18 Pro · 2 of 4 reviews needed
- Samsung Galaxy S26 · 0 of 4 reviews needed
- Google Pixel 11 · 1 of 4 reviews needed
- Google Pixel 10 Pro · 3 of 4 reviews needed
Common questions
What is the best smartphone?
The Apple iPhone 17 Pro, with a critic score of 94 from 4 professional reviews. Most praised: picture quality and performance. Most common complaint: price.
Apple iPhone 17 Pro vs Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7: which is better?
Critics score the Apple iPhone 17 Pro 94 and the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 86. We list the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 under “Best foldable”. Its main drawback: very expensive, with only average battery life.
Which smartphones do critics disagree on?
The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra (scores from 66 to 100).