If you asked me to present the phone right now, I would point you to the iPhone 15 Pro Max. Not only does it take the pictures of any phone, but it lasts a long time and has proven to be one of the best performers. Of course, not everyone is a fan of the iPhone, so for hardcore Android users, I would recommend the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, which almost matches the iPhone in the photo and adds AI-powered smart features.
Ask the same question next month and the answer could change. That’s when Apple’s new iPhone 16 models are expected to debut, and our phone ratings are expected to change based on rumors about improvements to the camera, display, and overall functionality.
As you can see, we’re constantly re-comparing the smartphone scene to help you find the most productive device for your needs. We base our feasible options on direct tests and comparisons between the dozens of phones that enter our lab each year. I’ve been reviewing phones since the first iPhone arrived in 2007, and if you look at the backgrounds of other members of the Tom’s Guide phone team, we have over four decades of experience comparing phones from one and both angles imaginable.
The most productive phones offer wonderful cameras, enough functionality to seamlessly multitask or play extensive games, and enough battery life to last all day. We checked these items on both one and both smartphones we reviewed, and we also took a look at the software, demonstrated the quality and design of the phone.
The end result is this updated list of 10 smartphones now that we’ve had a chance to test the new Pixel 9 devices. Our top phone picks come with features at a wide range of price points that inspired me and everyone else. from Tom’s Guide reviews.
I’m the cellphone editor at Tom’s Guide, where I’ve worked since 2015. In total, I’ve been covering generation for more than 20 years, and I was there when Steve Jobs launched the original iPhone in 2007. I’ve been reviewing and testing phones ever since, and If you stop by my house in Northern California, you’ll be able to marvel at the phone batteries I keep on hand for face-to-face testing.
Our opinion:
The iPhone 15 Pro Max is the most productive iPhone we’ve tested, and that’s because it has everything you could need in a flagship model, providing features you might not even find on the iPhone 15 Pro. The design has been made more light. and more premium with titanium sides, the device’s internal A17 chipset is stronger than any previous Apple silicon, and the camera array also receives some upgrades. If you can get a starting price of $1,199, the iPhone 15 Pro Max represents the most productive of what Apple has to offer.
Price and Value: Although this model costs $100 more than the starting price of the iPhone 14 Pro Max, Apple has increased the amount of base storage to 256GB. The iPhone 15 Pro offers almost all of the same features as the Pro Max, but in a smaller package and for a lower starting price. And if you prefer a large screen, you should also consider the iPhone 15 Plus. As for Samsung’s comparable device, the Galaxy s24 Ultra has also seen a price increase, so Apple’s high-end device is still the cheapest option.
Camera functionality: iPhones live and die through their cameras, and the iPhone 15 Pro Max’s telephoto lens is a huge improvement over previous Pro Max models, thanks to its 5x zoom capabilities. Its low-light functionality is also spectacular. That said, the Galaxy S24 Ultra still has the most zoom feature, although we think the iPhone 15 Pro Max is the phone with the biggest camera overall.
Battery and charging: The iPhone 15 Pro Max’s battery lasted more than 14 hours in our battery test, an impressive jump from the already durable iPhone 14 Pro Max. If only the phone could run quickly, as Apple still offers only 27W stressed charging and 15W wireless charging.
Overall performance: Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip now outperforms the iPhone in some tests, but the A17 Pro chipset that powers the iPhone 15 Pro Max is still a very fast chip. You’ll notice the extra oomph in completing daily responsibilities and switching between apps. Despite all of the Snapdragon’s graphical improvements, the iPhone 15 Pro Max still outperforms the newest Galaxy device when it comes to real-world responsibilities like video transcoding. Phones supplied with the A17 Pro, such as the iPhone 15 Pro Max, will be able to use Apple Intelligence features that Apple will roll out later this year.
Verdict: The iPhone 15 Pro Max is the most sensible in terms of design, photography, and performance. The upload speed and virtual zoom features can be more refined and cost a lot of money. But it’s still an extraordinary device. that deserves an upgrade.
Read the full review: iPhone 15 Pro Max
Our opinion:
The Galaxy S24 Ultra offers a next-generation Android experience, with the kind of upgrades you’d need for such a premium phone: a bigger processor, a brighter screen, and an optimized camera. But this year’s style stands out with the arrival of Galaxy AI features, which leverage synthetic intelligence to take care of responsibilities like translation, transcription, and summarizing. This could possibly be Samsung’s first attempt to bring AI to the forefront, but equipment like Circle to Search and automatic note formatting already seem quite advanced. And more importantly, they are incorporated into your daily phone use.
Price and value: Although its value has increased by up to $100 from the previous generation, you still get what you pay for with the Galaxy S24 Ultra. especially if you can find a lower price thanks to the best Galaxy S24 Ultra deals. Seven years of software and security updates help justify the cost.
Camera performance: Replacing a 10MP telephoto lens with 10x zoom with a 50MP camera with 5x zoom seems like a step backwards, even with superior solution images (at least you can still enjoy 10x zooms by cropping 50MP images. And the 100x space zoom feature is just as impressive as before. ) Nonetheless, the Galaxy S24 Ultra is still a premium camera phone, with more color control than the previous Samsung. star products.
Battery and charging: The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 that powers the Galaxy S24 Ultra is highly efficient, helping the S24 Ultra last 16 hours and forty-five minutes in our battery test. Wired charging speeds remain at forty-five W, which is even slower than the OnePlus 12 and its 80W charging speeds.
Overall functionality: In addition to its force control features, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 silicon offers exceptional functionality, enough to outperform the iPhone 15 Pro models in some tests, especially when it comes to graphics. Unlike other S24 models, which use other chipsets depending on their region, the Galaxy S24 Ultra uses a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, so you’re guaranteed the most productive Android functionality no matter where in the world you live.
Verdict: The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra gives the iPhone 15 lineup everything it can handle, outlasts Apple’s phone in terms of price, and even beats the iPhone 15 Pro Max in several benchmark tests. Add to that seven years of software updates and smart AI features, and this is a phone that delivers value.
Read full review: Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
Our opinion:
The Google Pixel 9 Pro offers the same traditional Google combination of great camera features and AI-based tools, this time with more emphasis on the latter. You’ll also get a smaller demo: Google says consumers were looking for a more compact edition of the Pro to go alongside the larger demo model. (If you prefer more screen real estate, check out the Pixel 9 Pro XL, which has exactly the same features as the regular Pro, but instead a 6. 7-inch screen and a larger battery. )
Price and value: On the one hand, the Pixel 9 Pro costs the same $999 that Google charged for the Pixel 8 Pro. But this older phone had a larger screen, making you feel like you’re paying more for a less expensive phone. Still, thanks to innovations in battery life and screen brightness, not to mention new AI features, you get what you pay for.
Camera functionality: Camera innovations are modest: a new ultrawide sensor adds a Macro mode that worked very well in our tests. The front camera also has an advanced sensor. Otherwise, the Pixel nine Pro’s camera functionality relies on the robustness of its photo processing, which produced some very strong images in our camera tests.
Battery and charging: The camera innovations are modest: a new ultrawide sensor adds a Macro mode that worked very well in our tests. The front camera also benefits from an advanced sensor. Otherwise, the Pixel nine Pro’s camera functionality relies on the robustness of its photo processing, which produced very powerful images in our camera tests.
Overall performance: The Tensor G4 that powers the Pixel nine Pro can’t keep up with other more responsive Android phones in comparison tests, and it’s also lagging behind the iPhone 15 models. But that’s not the purpose of Tensor. Au, but rather it powers a number of useful AI features, including pixel screenshots for easy searches for content in screenshots, adding me to place other people in photos of the organization, and call notes for transcripts and summaries of phone calls. Potentially the most productive addition is Gemini Live, a smarter app. Google Assistant edition. Pixel nine Pro owners get a year of Gemini Advanced to help with complex features.
Some AI equipment needs improvement, which we believe will come over time. Right now, pixel screenshots are very useful if you take a lot of screenshots so you don’t forget vital details. The Pixel Studio generative AI tool is also capable of generating photos simply using text prompts.
Verdict: If you’re willing to bet that the Pixel nine Pro’s AI features will improve over time, the camera performance, longer battery life, and brightness demonstration deserve to be enough to give you a wonderful device right now.
Read the full review: Google Pixel nine Pro
Our opinion:
Like the Pixel 7a it replaces, Google’s Pixel 8a is the most productive phone you can get when you refuse to spend more than $500. In return, you get one of the most productive camera phones for the price, as well as the AI features found on existing Pixel flagships. The only explanation for why to leave out the Pixel 8a right now is that Google will soon launch the Pixel nine flagships, introducing new AI capabilities. But the Pixel 8a is still a wonderful option for budget hunters.
Price and value: In addition to saving you $200 to $300 on flagship features, the Pixel 8a also presents itself as a phone you can use for a long time. Google now offers seven years of software and security updates, which coincides with the goal of that. Regular Pixel 8 phones get the same thing. With the Pixel 8a, Google shows other phone brands what a mid-range device should look like.
Camera performance: You’ll find the same cameras on the Pixel 8a as you do on the Pixel 7a, and the photo processing features also work similarly. While we’d like to make more extensive improvements, there’s no downplaying the Pixel 8a’s camera performance, especially when compared to other camera phones in this price range. You may not need to upgrade from last year’s phone, but other people with older phones will still be inspired by the quality of the photographs produced with the Pixel 8a.
Battery and charging: Google has finally created a phone that lasts longer than the average phone on a charge. The Pixel 8a clocked in at 11 hours and 21 minutes on our battery test, the most productive result we’ve seen for a Pixel in a long time. We just wish the charging speeds were faster, but at least you had wireless charging support.
Overall functionality: As always, the story of Pixel phones lies in the AI features supported through the Tensor core on Google silicon. With a Tensor G3 on the controls, the Pixel 8a matches the feature set of the Pixel 8 flagships, with the Magic Editor. and Best Take photo editing features steal the show. But don’t rest on the phone’s call control features either. That said, if you’re looking for raw functional power, you might not find it in the Pixel 8a, like the Tensor. The chips lag behind what Android phones’ Snapdragon silicon can provide.
Verdict: The Pixel 8a is an attractive addition to the A series, with wonderful cameras for a budget phone. With more wonderful battery life than before and extensive software support, Google’s mid-range phone is an even better offering than its predecessor.
Read full review: Google Pixel 8a
Our opinion:
The iPhone 15 doesn’t fit the iPhone 15 Pro Max in terms of features, but it also costs $400 less. This is the flagship device in the iPhone 15 lineup and offers solid functionality and high-quality photographs. While it’s frustrating to see the iPhone 15’s features, such as the screen refresh rate, stall at 60Hz, it’s still a wonderful phone for everyone, even if it’s not easy for users.
Price and cost: The iPhone 15’s starting price of $799 is still a generous sum for mid-range phones. But with the iPhone 15 Pro starting at $999 and the iPhone 15 Pro Max costing even more, that $799 price tag represents smart pricing at Apple. World. This is a clear step forward from the iPhone 14.
Camera performance: With the addition of a 48MP main camera to this year’s entry-level flagship, Apple has unleashed a lot of photography potential in the iPhone 15. The phone can now take more detailed 24MP photos than the popular 12 MP from the past. iPhones. The iPhone 15 can now also use a 2x lossless zoom mode without needing a telephoto lens, helping to close the gap between it and the Pro models. In our iPhone 15 vs. Galaxy S24 zoom head-to-head, The Apple phone held its own.
Battery and charging: Apple’s larger iPhones have more room for larger batteries, but the iPhone 15 still lasts more than 11 hours on a single charge. Charging is slow, however, with 20W charging speeds still available on older models.
Overall performance: The iPhone 15’s A16 Bionic chipset is still powerful, even though it debuted in the 2022 iPhone 14 Pro models. At least the A16 still beats newer Android 2 phones with Snapdragon 8 Gen in many benchmarks, from then the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 phones have surpassed it. From multitasking to graphics-intensive gaming, the iPhone 15 can handle almost anything. Although the iPhone 15 can run the iOS 18 update coming in the fall, it does not have the chipset capable of supporting AI-based Apple Intelligence features.
Verdict: The iPhone 15 offers better value for money than the iPhone 14 that preceded it. We love the iPhone 15’s 48MP main camera with its 24MP photos and 2x zoom mode, more convenient USB-C charging, and still excellent performance.
Read Full Review: iPhone 15
Our opinion:
Just as iPhone users can turn to the iPhone 15 to enjoy Apple’s most productive features at a lower cost, the Galaxy S24 provides an additional hotspot for Samsung’s flagships. In fact, the Galaxy S24 offers the best cash cost in Samsung’s existing lineup. , as it offers the same Galaxy AI capability as the S24 Plus and S24 Ultra, but for a starting price of $799. The S24 will be especially appealing to compact phone enthusiasts, as it’s comfortable to use with one hand, even with a larger 6. 2-inch screen.
Price and value: It’s hard to argue with a phone that offers a telephoto lens and Galaxy AI features for under $800. Seven years of software and security are even more impressive. Unless you really want a big screen or a beefier telephoto lens, the Galaxy S24 will more than satisfy your desires, and you probably won’t have to deal with a four-figure starting price either.
Camera performance: Very few cameras have been replaced on the Galaxy S24 compared to the S23, which is not necessarily a bad thing. Samsung’s flagships produce perfect images, and the S24 is no exception – some images came out a little dark in our tests. Samsung also includes a telephoto lens on its cheaper flagship, something Apple doesn’t do with the iPhone.
Battery and charging: With a battery life of thirteen hours and 28 minutes in our battery test, the Galaxy S24 beats the average smartphone by 3. 5 hours. The 25W charging speed is a bit disappointing, as Samsung’s other S24 models continue to offer 45W charging. Specifically, the cheaper OnePlus 12 charges faster than the S24.
Overall performance: The North American Galaxy S24 models are powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, which is a first for Samsung. This silicon produces numbers that outperform Apple’s mobile chips in some tests. Elsewhere, S24 buyers will have to make do with the Exynos 2400 system-on-chip. Our tests found that the Exynos 2400 wasn’t as fast as the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 in the same tests.
Verdict: The Galaxy S24 may not be Samsung’s most feature-rich flagship, but it does offer a telephoto lens, Galaxy AI capabilities, and, at least in North America, a powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset.
Read full review: Samsung Galaxy S24
Our opinion:
The OnePlus 12 can hold up to at most any Android phone, making it a valuable choice for Samsung’s more expensive phones. OnePlus continues to improve camera performance, while equipping its flagship with the most productive silicon available for Android devices. The OnePlus 12 is one of the most durable Android flagship phones possible and the phone has fast charging. A larger screen with impressive brightness completes the package.
Price and value: A $100 value increase over the OnePlus 11 is a bit disappointing, however, at least one very liberal trade-in program negates that value increase, bringing the OnePlus 12 down to a $699 discount. That’s $100 less than the Galaxy S24 and $300 less than the Galaxy S24 Plus.
Camera performance: The telephoto lens can now offer 3x zoom (on previous OnePlus models it was 2x) because the OnePlus 12 features the fourth-generation Hasselblad camera system. Low-light images were found to be underexposed in our tests, but under other conditions. , the photographs appeared sharp and well-composed.
Battery and charging: Outside of gaming phones, you may not find devices that are more durable than OnePlus phones. The OnePlus 12 lasted over 17. 5 hours in our test, where the average smartphone runs around 10 hours. With 80W, stressed charging and wireless charging feedback, you’ll keep your battery charged.
Overall performance: A Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset means the OnePlus 12 can compete with performers like the Galaxy S24 and not lose a step. In graphics tests, the OnePlus 12 even outperforms newer iPhones. The OnePlus 12 has no challenge to bet on. easy games or switch between apps quickly.
Verdict: The OnePlus 12 is OnePlus’ most well-rounded offering yet, featuring Qualcomm’s chipset, a Hasselblad-designed triple-camera formula, fast and stressful charging, and the return of wireless charging.
Read full review: OnePlus 12
Our opinion:
The iPhone 15 Pro offers a middle ground between the basic iPhone 15 and the more expensive iPhone 15 Pro Max. While the Pro’s compact length makes it difficult to integrate all of Apple’s newest technology, it still offers the maximum of Apple’s most recent advancements, making it a wonderful selection for users who need a high-end device without paying Pro Max prices.
Price and value: Staying at $999 means the iPhone 15 Pro seems like a reduced price for high-end Android phones, or the iPhone 15 Pro Max, which costs $200 more. But $999 is still a lot of money to shell out, so think carefully about your purchase.
Camera performance: It’s a shame that the iPhone 15 Pro only offers 3x zoom, as that’s the only thing that absolutely stops it from matching the iPhone 15 Pro Max at the top level of this list. However, it’s a wonderful camera phone. that is, suitable for taking photographs in night and portrait mode. The iPhone 15 Pro’s main, selfie, and ultrawide cameras are also among the most productive.
Battery and charging: The iPhone 15 Pro is just below the 11-hour mark that separates the most durable phones from the crowd. It has the shortest battery life of any phone in the iPhone 15 family. Don’t take this to mean that battery life is bad, as the Pro still outperforms several Android rivals.
Overall Functionality: Apple’s impressive A17 Pro chipset gives the iPhone 15 Pro functionality that outperforms almost any other phone in any given benchmark, with Snapdragon 8 Gen 3-equipped Android phones scoring higher numbers in graphics tests. That said, the iPhone 15 Pro is still smart for gaming thanks to its ray-tracing-capable GPU. Thanks to the A17 Pro processor, the iPhone 15 will be able to support Apple Intelligence features that bring more AI-based features to the iPhone.
Bottom line: iPhone 15 Pro delivers (almost) all of the iPhone’s most productive features in a frame you don’t want to be used by two hands. The revised design, updated cameras, chipset, and battery life make it a wonderful phone.
Read the full review: iPhone 15 Pro
Our opinion:
The Google Pixel nine may not have the telephoto lens that comes with the Pixel nine Pro, but it also costs $200 less, giving you a cheaper way to enjoy the benefits of the new Tensor G4 processor. This means that all the AI models added through Google to its Pixel nine Pro are built into the Pixel nine. (One exception: You don’t need to use Gemini Advanced like Pixel nine owners do. )
Price and value: When the Pixel 7 launched, it cost $599. Two years later, the value of a basic Pixel is $799, which is what Apple and Samsung charge for their basic models. At least Google offers full software. Seven years of OS updates and security patches, so you can really extend the life of the Pixel 9.
Camera performance: There’s a new ultra-wide-angle camera sensor, but that’s enough to make primary hardware adjustments to the Pixel 9’s camera setup. Still, the Pixel 9’s cameras perform better than ever in our tests comparisons with other high-end camera phones, which we attribute to the photo processing features that Google has been evolving over the years.
Battery and charging: Aside from the Pixel nine’s brighter display, this phone’s biggest improvement is in battery life. The recent Pixel flagships didn’t do very well in our battery test, however, the Pixel nine managed to last over thirteen hours, beating the average smartphone result by 3 hours.
Overall performance: As with the Pixel 9 Pro, the Tensor G4 powering this phone is nothing to write home about when it comes to speed and graphics tests. But Tensor is all about AI features and finds many new additions in the Pixel. 9. AI rigs run the gamut from fun (Pixel Studio’s imaging capabilities) to practical. (Pixel Screenshots help you locate information and the Weather app now offers AI-generated weather reports. ) Some features, like phone call transcripts, are still a bit rough, but we think Google will improve over time with software updates.
Verdict: Make some sacrifices by opting for the Pixel 9 instead of one of the Pro models – the screen is smaller than the Pixel 9 Pro XL and you probably won’t have free access to Gemini Advanced. But also pay many dollars less for a wonderful phone with a camera and a lot of intelligence.
Read the full review: Google Pixel 9
Our opinion:
The OnePlus 12R is the first OnePlus R-series phone to launch outside of China and India, and if this styling is any indication, we hope it won’t be the last. The 12R is a solid mid-range device that maintains some high-end flagship features at a lower price. It’s one of our favorite phones under $500 and competes with the Pixel 8a.
Price and value: The OnePlus 12R offers a lot for a $499 phone. We just want the software and security to last a little longer. In Europe, the less expensive 8GB/128GB style is rarely widely available, which somehow negates the OnePlus 12R’s appeal as a budget alternative similar to the Pixel 8a.
Camera performance: The cameras are the OnePlus 12R’s biggest flaw, as it lacks the Hasselblad partnership that bolstered the OnePlus 12’s main cameras. Phones like the Pixel 7a simply take better photos than those produced by the OnePlus 12R.
Battery and charging: The OnePlus 12R offers exceptional battery life, outperforming all phones tested in the last 18 months. With 80W stressed charging, the only thing you can do is charge the battery quickly, but there’s no wireless charging on this model.
Overall performance: The OnePlus 12R’s internal Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 is no longer the fastest Android silicon, now that the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 powers Android flagships. But last year’s silicon is still fast and strong enough to propel the 12R ahead of other phones in its price range.
Bottom line: The OnePlus 12R has exceptional battery life and solid performance. Add in a low starting price in the US and you get an unbeatable price for a mid-range phone.
Read the full review: OnePlus 12R
Our opinion:
The Galaxy Z Fold 6 would have possibly been released more recently, but the OnePlus Open is still in the lead, especially now that it’s less expensive than Samsung’s foldable top. The OnePlus Open is not only well-designed, but offers a more comfortable multitasking experience for users. This phone has everything users need, and the arrival of a variant called the OnePlus Open Apex Edition in August will also bring even more features, such as garage innovations and AI photo editing tools.
Price and price: OnePlus offers an interesting proposition for potential buyers. It’s already inferior to other laptop-style foldables with its $1,699 starting price, but the extra $200 trade-in credits on offer bring it to $1,499, which is a much higher price than the $1,899 price of the Galaxy Z Fold 6.
Camera performance: Armed with a Hasselblad camera system, the OnePlus Open handles peak conditions with ease, excelling most often with its main camera when mild conditions are ideal. Its 3x telephoto zoom camera performs just as well as the Pixel Fold’s 5x zoom camera, but it struggles in incredibly low and mild conditions.
Battery and charging: Foldable phones don’t last long when charged, given the large screens they want to power. Still, the OnePlus Open lasts over 11 hours in our battery test, gently outperforming the Pixel Fold and Galaxy Z Fold 5. It also charges much faster, achieving 85% charge capacity with 30 minutes of charging.
Overall performance: The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 offers smart effects with OnePlus Open. It outperforms the Galaxy Z Fold 5 in graphics processing discovered in our benchmark tests, but we found that it is responsive in everyday use.
Verdict: The OnePlus Open improves on what existing laptop-style foldables have already done, but makes all the necessary innovations to make it the foldable phone. At the same time, it offers the longest battery life and charging in a foldable format, combined with a lower charge and a premium design.
Read full review: OnePlus open
Our opinion:
The Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro is one of the most productive gaming phones we’ve tested. But it benefits from a toned-down design that makes it look like any flagship phone: highly productive for people who need to combine business with emotion while enjoying the benefits of a durable device.
Price and value: As the ROG Phone 8 Pro is, $1,199 is a lot to spend on any device. We’d feel better about the expense if Asus provided more than two years of software support.
Camera performance: Historically, cameras aren’t a strong point for gaming phones, but Asus does its best to improve things. We like the inclusion of a telephoto lens and the solid video footage shot via the gimbal-stabilized main camera. Flagship phones with higher prices offer better photos.
Battery and charging: The ROG Phone 8 Pro came close to the 19-hour mark in our battery test, an exceptional time that beats any other phone tested. With 65W stressed charging, it can also charge the phone quickly.
Overall Performance: With the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, you’ll get the functionality of any Android phone from the Asus ROG Phone 8. You can also load the device with up to 24GB of RAM.
Verdict: The ROG Phone 8 Pro is a very rugged device that looks out of place in the hands of any user. Nonetheless, gamers will take full advantage of the ROG phone’s rugged processor and battery life.
Read the full review: Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro
Android phones offer you more possible options in terms of price, size, and cutting-edge designs. However, iPhones offer faster software updates, better games and apps, and greater security and privacy. Check out our iPhone vs. Android showdown to stay informed. Learn more about the strengths and weaknesses of any of the cellular platforms.
In the United States, most buyers purchase new phones through their cell phone provider. But an unlocked telephone gives you the freedom to purchase the device without any contract and then take it to the carrier you want to use. And today, it’s pretty easy to take an unlocked telephone to any telephone operator.
Fans of the most productive small phones today will have a hard time finding devices with screens smaller than 6 inches, even if there are still a few left. Thanks to the shrinking bezels, phones with screens around 6. 1 inches are quite compact. If you prefer a giant phone, prefer a model with a 6. 5-inch to 6. 8-inch display. Something bigger, and you’ll probably want to look at a foldable phone, where the device opens up to reveal a giant screen.
Most phones come with at least two rear cameras: a number one lens and an ultra-wide camera, usually. Telephoto lenses with optical zoom are reserved for the most expensive flagship phones. Don’t pay attention to the number of megapixels. Instead, watch camera clashes between phones to see the quality of photographs and look for special features like night mode for higher quality in low-light conditions. Also check out our roundup of the best camera phones to learn more about which devices really stand out when taking pictures.
Generally, phones with larger batteries (measured in mAh) offer the longest battery life, but this is not the case. That’s why we perform our own battery test, where we make the phones surf the Internet until they run out of power. The average phone runs out of battery in 10 hours, while the most productive battery life we’ve tested tends to exceed the 12-hour mark.
For a smartphone to be on our list of most productive phones, it must excel in several tests we run on the phone. We perform some of those tests in our laboratories and others in the real world.
When it comes to functionality, we rely on artificial benchmarks like Geekbench five and 3DMark’s Wild Life Unlimited to measure chart functionality. These checks allow us to compare the functionality of iPhone and Android devices. We also perform an actual video transcoding check on each one calls the Adobe Premiere Rush app and measures the result.
To measure the quality of a phone’s screen, we perform laboratory tests of the panel’s brightness (in nits), as well as the color of each of the screens (DCI-P3 color range). In those cases, the higher numbers are larger. We also measure the color accuracy of each panel with a Delta-E index, where lower numbers are higher and a score of 0 is perfect.
One of the most important tests we perform is the Tom’s Guide Battery Test. We perform an Internet browsing test on 5G or 4G with a screen brightness of 150 nits until the battery runs out. As noted above, a phone that lasts more than 10 hours has a smart battery life, while phones that last around 12 hours or more are some of the longest-lasting phones we’ve tested.
Last but not least, we used the most productive phones in the pack to shoot outdoor, indoor, and night in low-light situations to see how they perform compared to their nearest competitors. We take photographs of landscapes, food, portraits, and much more, and will also allow you to judge them by side-by-side comparisons in our reviews.
To learn more, visit our How We Test Tom’s Guide page.
Philip Michaels is editor of Tom’s Guide. He has been interested in private generation since 1999 and was involved in building it when Steve Jobs first launched the iPhone. He’s been comparing smartphones since the first iPhone launched in 2007, and he’s been tracking phone carriers and smartphone plans since 2015. He’s got solid reviews on Apple, the Oakland A’s, old movies, and proper butchering techniques. Follow him @PhilipMichaels.
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