It's been a rather busy time for the phones desk here at TechRadar, what with Samsung's latest S26 range going up for preorder and Apple announcing the iPhone 17e. We've even seen some phone debuts at MWC 2026. Whether any of them will find a spot as one of the best phones in Australia is yet to determined, but one thing is for certain — our Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra review says it's the best Android phone yet.
With that in mind, our picks for the best phones in Australia have received a shake up. While the Google Pixel 10 Pro is arguably still the best overall — offering great performance and user experience for a good price — I've added the S26 Ultra where it belongs.
March 2026: This month has seen a major shake up in the list of best phones. We have two new contenders — the first being the best Android phone, the second is the best budget handset. Take a look below.
The best phones in Australia in 2026
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The best phone overall
✅ You want to be productive with your Pixel: The Pixel 10 lacks some of the best Pixel 10 Pro features, like AI call screening that takes notes and makes sure you don’t miss details
✅ You can’t be seen with a brightly colored phone: These days, Pro means subdued, and the Pixel 10 Pro comes in colors that are appealing but not as bright as the Indigo or Lemongrass Pixel 10
❌ You don’t plan on buying any magnetic accessories: Pixelsnap charges slower, but the convenience makes the Pixel 10 Pro a much better experience, especially considering its poor battery showing.
❌ You play a lot of mobile games with intense graphics: I didn’t have too much trouble with the slow performance of the Tensor G5 chipset, but serious gamers may want a Snapdragon instead.
The Google Pixel 10 Pro might not have received the most stars possible in its review, but it carries the torch on from the Pixel 9 Pro as the best phone overall – not necessarily the best phone for specific things, but the one you can rely on most as a capable everyday handset.
Despite being a slimmed-down version of the Pixel 10 Pro XL, ditching the XL's faster wired and wireless charging (along with the larger screen) the performance of the Pixel 10 Pro for the price is worth celebrating, especially when its operating system is so user-friendly and cameras so exceptional.
It's ever so slightly bigger than the standard Pixel 10 and it packs just a little more power – 16GB RAM might seem overkill but it's more than enough to keep up with intense daily usage. Additionally, AI features and Material 3 improvements make the handset all the more attractive, and it may be the perfect phone for switching away from Apple.
One of the big points in the Pixel 10 Pro's favour is that is supports Qi 2 charging (along with the rest of the range) – meaning magnetic charging accessories work with it seamlessly without needing a case. This point is particularly noteworthy when considering that not many other mainstream Android smartphones support this.
Just be aware that Pixel range is typically fairly underpowered compared to similar Samsung phones, with the S25 range outperforming the Pixels in both CPU and GPU testing. That'd matter most for an avid gamer or a power user, but for the everyday person it's probably not a big deal.
Read our full Google Pixel 10 Pro review
The best iPhone
✅ You want the best-value iPhone yet: A bigger screen, better performance and great cameras at the same price as the iPhone 16, there's excellent value here.
✅ You want more storage without paying extra: Where previous Apple base models started at 128GB, the iPhone 17 gets you 256GB at the same starting price.
❌ You’re happy with an iPhone 15/16: If you're happy with how your iPhone 15 or 16 is going, there's no need to upgrade just yet.
❌ You want better battery life and a superior camera array: Sacrifices had to be made to keep the price low, but if you want longer battery life and more control over the camera, you'll need to go Pro.
Our reviewer called it "the best-value iPhone ever released", and given the upgrades the iPhone 17 brings over the iPhone 16, there's no arguing that sentiment. You just have to look at the spec sheet to know it's a significant upgrade and would be the best iPhone for most users.
It may not have received the design upgrades that the Pro models did – indeed, it looks identical to the iPhone 16 – but the iPhone 17 does, in fact, boast a slightly larger screen. Now featuring a crisp 6.3-inch display (an upgrade over the previous 6.1 inches), it boasts Apple's ProMotion tech that dynamically scales between 1Hz and 120Hz depending on the type of content on-screen. ProMotion also gives you the option of an Always-On display on the base model itself, so you can view the time, date, notifications and widgets without fully waking your phone.
In addition to that Pro-rivalling screen, the iPhone 17 also gets the same 256GB starting storage capacity, the same 18MP selfie camera, the same customisable Action button, the same Camera Control button, the same scratch-resistant Ceramic Shield 2 display cover, and all of the same iOS 26 software features (including the new Liquid Glass interface) as its more expensive siblings.
So, what do you miss out by not going Pro? Well, Apple's 48MP 'Fusion' camera is plenty capable on the iPhone 17, but it's no substitute for a 48MP zoom lens, which you'll find on its most expensive models. The iPhone 17 Pro also offers marginally longer battery life and faster charging, while its A19 Pro chipset is, on paper, more powerful than the iPhone 17's non-Pro variant.
Honestly, though, if you're not a keen zoom photographer and aren't intending to record and edit lengthy 4K videos, I’d urge you to seriously consider whether the cheaper iPhone 17 might actually be a better fit for your needs.
Read our full iPhone 17 review
The best Android phone
✅ You want a powerful handset: There aren't too many handsets that can match what the custom Snapdragon chipset does on the S26 Ultra. It opens up the performance for plenty of creative opportunities.
✅ You want multi-day battery life: While magnetic wireless charging is still a no-show, you can easily eke out a few days of use if you use mid-range settings.
❌ AI is not for you: Its AI features are the S26 Ultra's biggest selling points, and some users might not be too keen on so much generative power.
❌ Money is tight: All the fancy AI features and the power needed to run this handset makes it an expensive beast.
Samsung didn't try to reinvent its best phone with the S26 Ultra, instead making it a minor upgrade over the S25 Ultra but in a way that makes the new flagship a much more powerful handset.
Despite its bigger camera bump over the S25 Ultra, our reviewer called it "aesthetically sublime", while bemoaning the continued lack of magnetic wireless charging. It is still, however, "a full package" for a light and bright big-screen phone and is a veritable "pocket computer" that comes with an S Pen tucked inside.
It uses the fastest chip on any handset today — namely the customised Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 designed specifically for Galaxy phones, and it makes the S26 Ultra arguably the most powerful phone on the market right now, powering not one but four AI engines!
The much-debated Privacy Display is another feature that could be a major attraction for many users, as could the built-in 'gimbal' that allows you to turn the phone a full 360º without ruining your recording.
Speaking of which, the cameras are still some of the best here. Add in the many AI abilities of this phone and the S26 Ultra could well dethrone the iPhone 17 Pro Max as the best camera phone on the market.
There's even better heat management to back up the power and performance, so you truly are getting one heck of an Android phone here.
Read our full Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra review
The best value iPhone
✅ You want an affordable, smaller iPhone: This is now your only brand-new 'budget' iPhone choice.
✅ You want cheaper access to Apple Intelligence: Apple squeezed a A18 chip inside this affordable iPhone to give you access to Apple's own brand of AI.
❌ You're a photographer: A single, albeit excellent, rear lens won't be enough for people who like to shoot wide-angle and macros.
❌ You never liked the notch: Apple bringing back a none-too-loved display feature doesn't make a lot of sense. If you want the Dynamic Island at a more affordable price than the iPhone 16, take a look at the iPhone 15.
The iPhone 16e is Apple's replacement for the iPhone SE, and is basically a stripped back version of the base model iPhone 16.
This is the iPhone model to consider if you love the Apple experience, user interface and aesthetic, but don't necessarily need the high-end performance of pricier models or simply don't want to spend too much.
The iPhone 16e features the same great processing power as the standard 16, apart from its four core GPU (the 16 has a five core GPU). It's ever so slightly smaller and, in shaving the price down, it has a notch instead of the Dynamic Island at the top, a single 'fusion' camera and a lower peak brightness.
The 60Hz display is only ever so slightly smaller than that of the standard 16, and on the battery front, the 16e actually outperforms its sibling, with up to 26 hours of video playback (versus 22 hours).
You'll typically get better camera performance and a more impressive screen on a similarly priced Android phone, or indeed one much cheaper, but the iPhone 16e retains Apple's great performance and aesthetic, and is certainly worth upgrading to from an older iPhone – especially an SE.
With a near AU$1,000 price tag, I did fall for the iPhone 16e, though it failed to lure me back to iOS completely, as more competitively priced Android phones (such as the Google Pixel 9a) tend to offer better feature sets despite less impressive results on benchmarks.
Read our full iPhone 16e review
The best value Android phone
✅ You want a great bargain camera for close-upsWhile it lacks zoom, Google’s bargain Pixel has some of the best macro photography capabilities I’ve seen.
✅ You want a solid phone to keep for a very long timeThe Pixel 9a is durable, and it'll get seven years of Android and security updates. That makes it a keeper if you want a bargain phone that will last.
❌ You're not a fan of the aesthetic: Removing the camera bar does make the phone look a lot different and it's not for everyone.
❌ You're after a more powerful device: Being a step down from the standard Pixel 9 range, the Pixel 9a doesn't perform as well (though it certainly holds its own)
It's difficult to call the Google Pixel 9a a ‘budget’ Android phone, but with a sub-AU$1,000 price tag, it's a worthwhile entry point to the Google Pixel category, and is a brilliant handset if you’re switching over from an iPhone.
The Google Pixel 9a is the definitive entry level-premium handset. This phone is fitted with a brilliant array of cameras that capture colour and detail perfectly, while also retaining awesome processing power with the Tensor G4 chip (the same chip found in the more expensive Pixel 9 models).
Though the Pixel 9a doesn't really change much on top of the Pixel 8a, it does sport a massively tweaked design, with more rounded corners similar to an iPhone and no protruding camera bar (the cameras are now entirely housed within the base iPhone shape). It's not a design for everybody, our reviewer certainly didn't like it, but I personally find it to be an inoffensive design, especially if you're going to have it in a case anyway.
Underlying the Tensor G4 chip is 8GB RAM and your choice between 128GB or 256GB storage. Its display may be small but it is gorgeous, and for the most part, this device is a much more enticing option than the previously entry-level Pixel 9.
On performance and photos, the Pixel 9a outclasses every similarly priced phone, though I personally think the Nothing Phone 3a Pro is worth considering if you'd like a more interesting device to look at.
Additionally, as there isn't much difference between this model and last year's device, I'm also recommending the Google Pixel 8a, as it is much better priced now and worthy of consideration.
Read our full Google Pixel 9a review
The best budget phone
✅ You want a unique-looking phone: There's no other phone with this one's design — a modular handset with a customisable chassis.
✅ Affordability is important: At under AU$500, this phone offers excellent value, even though you will have to sacrifice a little on the overall performance.
❌ Power and performance are important to you: The biggest sacrifice Nothing has made here is with the chipset, so don't expect it to be the fastest phone. It also doesn't take the best photos.
❌ You're clumsy or are outdoors a lot: The CMF Phone 2 Pro is durable, but there's no water resistance. If you think you'll drop the handset, especially into water, or will likely be spending time in the rain, look elsewhere.
It's tempting to say that the Samsung Galaxy A56 is still the best budget phone on the market, and it is, but the CMF Phone 2 Pro is unique so it has to find a spot on this page. Its quirky design and stylish Android skin puts it in a class of its own amongst budget handsets.
The design allows you to get creative to personalise the chassis to what you want — Nothing sells optional accessories for it, but you can always create your own and use a 3D printer to make them. Now, which other phone do you know that let's you do this?
The minimalist, distraction-free interface was also a standout for our reviewer, who called it "genuinely refreshing". Instead of loud and colourful icons, NothingOS has a monochromatic aesthetic and widgets to match.
Just don't expect it to be the fastest handset or take topnotch photos. Keeping the price down means it doesn't have a powerful chip or the best camera array — it will struggle as a mobile gaming machine and takes "muddy" photos as our reviewer found out.
However, it will do just fine for most daily tasks and its battery life is excellent — our tests showed it can go over 16 hours with average use, meaning it can get you through a full day and still have some left over for the next day.
Read our full CMF Phone 2 Pro review
The best camera phone
✅ You want the best iPhone ever: There has never been a more powerful iPhone, with an the best camera setup from Apple yet.
✅ Power and performance matter: Capable of handling the editing of 4K video is no mean feat, and the A19 Pro chip runs it as smoothly as it does anything else.
❌ You're not a professional content creator: Not everyone is going to need ProRes Raw footage, plus this kind of work means you'll also need higher storage and a powerful laptop as well.
❌ You want more megapixels: While 48MP is nothing to sneeze at, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra offers a 200MP main camera.
In all honesty, the iPhone 17 Pro Max is overkill for 90% of Apple's target audience, but there's no denying its the best iPhone yet.
An updated design and a new colour option makes it feel fresh rather than 'just another iPhone', but it's the A19 Pro chip that's the star of the show here. Paired with the efficiency-friendly aluminium unibody chassis, the iPhone 17 Pro Max is among the best phones around for raw power and, as a result, one of the best gaming phones money can buy.
Surprise! This is one of the best camera phones around, too. Compared to the iPhone 16 Pro Max, the 17 Pro Max sports a full-width 'Camera Plateau' that houses a new, longer telephoto lens. It's a 48MP sensor with 4x optical zoom, though Apple will also let you crop in up to 8x for 'optical-quality' zoom shots at 12MP.
In testing, we found that the iPhone 17 Pro Max delivered "fantastic photos with true-life colors and exquisite detail," and while its 48MP main and 18MP selfie cameras are the same as those on the regular iPhone 17, the Pro Max is indisputably the top choice for serious mobile photographers.
Beyond its dedicated telephoto lens, the second big selling point of the iPhone 17 Pro Max is its battery life. We managed to eke out over 30 hours of life from the phone (Apple rates it for 39 hours), and if you own a 40W to 60W adaptive charger, you'll be able to juice up the 17 Pro Max to 50% in around 20 minutes.
It's worth noting that the 6.3-inch iPhone 17 Pro is exactly the same phone as the iPhone 17 Pro Max, but smaller and cheaper. So, if you're not fussed about owning the biggest iPhone, we'd advise going for that model instead.
Read our full iPhone 17 Pro Max review
The best foldable phone
✅ You wanted a foldable and the best camera: Samsung has finally put an Ultra-level camera in its best foldable, and it will make a difference in your photography.
✅ You want a foldable that looks like a regular phone: When it's folded you get to stare at the Galaxy Z Fold 7's lovely 6.5-inch 2:19 cover screen, which is indistinguishable from a standard smartphone.
❌ You want a cheap foldable phone: The Galaxy Z Fold 7 is one of the most expensive smartphones on the market.
❌ You want a tough phone: Even with refinements in design, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 isn't a phone to weather the elements.
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 refines what the Galaxy Z Fold 6 did best and adds extra power, with a much better array of cameras (including the 200MP sensor from the S25 Ultra) and a much thinner unfolded profile.
This time around, Samsung has made the Z Fold 7's screens bigger and overall made it a much thinner phone – one that looks like a normal smartphone when folded, but absolutely massive when unfolded. Though Samsung has brought back a hole-punch inner camera, the screen remains extremely high quality, particularly if you want to mix the best of a tablet and smartphone.
All of this said, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 is one of the most expensive smartphones in Australia, with the 1TB option being the very most expensive phone in the country. It's not a handset to consider if you're on a budget.
Additionally, while it is a huge phone with a gorgeous screen, the Galaxy S25 Ultra has much more capable cameras that might impress you more if you want to take snaps. Despite being more expensive, being bigger, and having a pretty cool gimmick, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 isn’t entirely a better phone over the S25 Ultra.
Read our full Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 review
FAQs
What is the best phone in Australia in 2026?
There’s no real ‘best’ phone, and there never will be – there will be, however, a phone that suits your needs quite well, whether you need powerful cameras, a huge storage capacity, a gorgeous display or a mix of these things.
If that mix sounds good, it might be worthwhile considering the Google Pixel 10 Pro, however, it’s worth keeping the pros and cons of this in mind, including a reasonably high entry price, plus a fairly standard screen and handset size.
Going bigger than this, you can consider the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra, or if you’re an Apple fan, you might want to consider the iPhone 17 Pro Max if you want the best of the best. Down from this, you might also want to consider the CMF Phone 2 Pro for something different on a budget or even the Samsung Galaxy A56. The iPhone 16e or Pixel 9an are also excellent alternatives when it comes to good value in a handset without making too many compromises.
If your heart is set on a big screen, or if you want to take on a foldable, then you can’t go wrong with the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 – though be aware that this is one of the most expensive smartphones in the country.
Which phone has the best camera?
Moving over to recommendations from our guide to the best camera phones, the best phone for taking photos is the iPhone 17 Pro Max.
The results from this Apple flagship are rich with details and very lifelike. Colours are well balanced and appealing to share even straight out of the camera. You can always make edits if you wish, with plenty of options within the Photos app.
Where it really stands out is videography — no other smartphone shoots video from start to finish that is so reliably smooth, with no hiccups or dropped frames.
It does have some limits that you won't encounter with a Samsung handset, for example, but its ability to push its battery life to the max (pun intended) works in its favour.
How much storage should my phone have?
A casual user would likely get by with either 128GB or 256GB of storage capacity on a phone in 2025, providing ample room for whatever apps, photos and videos the user wants to keep on-device – but power users who take lots of video and keep big video games on their phone might want to consider 512GB or 1TB storage potions.
Storage is something that users demand highly of when it comes to the best phones in Australia, whether it’s for keeping lots of photos on-device or for having lots of apps installed – but when more storage equals a higher cost, you should seriously consider your priorities. The flip side to this is that higher storage capacities – 256GB and higher – can also maintain battery health for longer.
Additionally, you should also consider some cloud storage solutions for if you want to keep your photos and videos saved but don’t want to keep them readily available on your device. Most cloud storage solutions include a free amount of storage before you need to pay, though for backups and for native app data, iPhone users will need to rely on iCloud (which offers 5GB free and paid storage options above that).
How to choose the best phone for you
Depending on the way you use your smartphone, there are likely to be one or more aspects of a device that are important to you.
If you want a hardy smartphone, you should check whether it has an IP rating – this will dictate how protected it is against dust and moisture. Also consider its material – ceramic is very fragile, as is glass, but plastic and metal can be more protective.
If you stream a lot, you might want a good-looking display. Bigger, up to 6.8 inches, might be useful for you, as will a resolution over 1080p. Refresh rates of 90Hz or 120Hz also ensure that motion looks smoother.
Battery life can be a pain for people, though capacity doesn't always dictate how long a mobile lasts. A phone needs to last at least a day to be useful for most people, though some go up to two days.
Charging speed is also important, and anything of 65W or up is good, though some phones now offer over 120W. The best phones power up in under an hour, and some even take less than 30 minutes.
Camera quality is hard to convey through a specs list, so you'll have to rely on our analysis and testing to see how good they are – but it's always useful to find a camera phone with multiple lenses and modes.
How we test
Every phone on this list was subjected to a full TechRadar review, and therefore our entire testing process. The core part of this process involves using the phone as our own for one week or more. We slot our SIM card in, use the device for social media, entertainment, photography and other normal tasks.
This is so we can emulate how you'll use the device if you buy it. It helps us understand all the quirks of a phone that you don't notice if you just leave the device in a lab and test it. Of course, we do some lab tests, too, for some direct comparison.
So, we'll game and we'll do benchmark tests to work out how powerful a phone is; we'll time a phone when it's charging but also just work out how powering fits into our morning routine; we'll test how long a phone takes to run down, but also just handle it day-to-day for a long period of time.
Our main areas of focus in our review are the phone's design, display, cameras, performance, software and battery life, though of course its price is also important for our final judgement.
