The best smartphone right now is the Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus… but there are some pretty close rivals to read about here out.
You’re here because you want to know which, out of all the dizzying choices on the market, is the best smartphone.
Well, we’ve done the hard work for you, testing every phone out there and coming up with this definitive list of the very best smartphones around — pages where you can browse easily and see which device takes your fancy.
TechRadar’s test are long and rigorous, looking closely at the key things that matter: the screen quality, camera capability, battery life and overall design and feel in the hand… and most importantly putting these in real-life context, rather than just chucking a set of lab-generated numbers at you.
We’re already approaching June, and we’ve now had all the flagship phones from the first half of 2018 unveiled — you can read our in-depth reviews of the Honor 10 and OnePlus 6, as well as our detailed preview of the HTC U12 Plus, before they arrive very soon in this list of phones.
If this list is too broad for you, we’ve got good news: there’s also our ranking of best iPhone or best Android phone, and if you’re wedded to the most popular smartphone brand, then we’ve even got a list of the best Samsung phones .
As you can see below, the best smartphone right now is the Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus, thanks to a tremendous technological and design combination — but see for yourself which feels right for you.
Remember, these phones are the very best the market has to offer, and while we do take price into account if you’re looking for something more on a budget, then head to our best cheap phones page to get some other recommendations.
Release date: March 2018| Weight: 189g| Dimensions: 158.1 x 73.8 x 8.5mm| OS: Android 8| Screen size: 6.2-inch| Resolution: 1440 x 2960| CPU: Snapdragon 845 / Exynos 9810| RAM: 6GB| Storage: 64GB/128GB| Battery: 3,500mAh| Rear camera: Dual 12MP| Front camera: 8MP
The Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus is a big phone that’s designed for big hands — and it takes the very best of what’s on the smartphone market and puts it together in a compelling package that we’ve loved testing, despite the strong competition on the following pages.
Screen: The Super AMOLED 6.2-inch display has been measured as one of the very best around right now, with super colours, great dynamic range and, essentially, the very best viewing experience you can have on a mobile phone.
Battery life: The battery life on the S9 Plus is better than that seen on the smaller S9, thanks to the 3,500mAh battery in the Plus model — although it’s probably the weakest part of the phone, not offering as much life as we’d have liked.
Camera: The camera on the Galaxy S9 Plus is among the best on the market, and the dual-aperture capability offers some startlingly good snaps when things get a little darker.
Colours can look a tad washed out when the exposure is higher, but the power of the sensor, with memory built into it to make it smarter than most rivals, offers very low-noise shots.
Mini verdict: If you’re after a bigger phone with all the features that matter on board, the Galaxy S9 Plus is that and more.
Read more: Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus review
