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Choosing the best mobile phone can be a daunting prospect in a world where multiple brands release dozens of models every year.
So suddenly you have to ask yourself: Is it more important to choose the latest model, with its fancy new cameras, shiny new processor and eye-waveringly high price tag?
Or should you keep an eye on your wallet and opt for a less premium model?
With this guide, we're here to help. We've reviewed the latest iPhones, Android phones, and if you're on a budget, we have a guide to the best cheap phones in Australia as well.
We've also rounded up the best brand phones:
These are the best mobile phones we've tested:
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
It's has only been available for a couple of months, but the S24 Ultra has moved to the top of this list, just like its predecessor did.
In our review of the phone, we found it to be an exceptional device, with lightning fast responsiveness and a brilliant camera system.
Its AI features can be a little difficult to uncover within various menus, but when you find them they typically work quite well. Being able to colourise old black and white photos is a lot of fun.
With the combination of its power and its camera array, the S24 Ultra is the phone to buy if you're after the best of the best.
Nick Broughall
Apple iPhone 16
With the impending arrival of Apple Intelligence, Apple gave the iPhone 16 the new A18 processor. And it is a powerhouse.
Even without Apple Intelligence on board, the iPhone 16 is fast and responsive. It can handle pretty much anything you throw at it comfortably, and looks great while doing it.
Throw in the fact that the standard iPhone models also have the Action button that first appeared in the iPhone 15 Pro models, and the new camera control button, and you have a phone that's pretty hard to overlook.
The iPhone 16 Pro Max does have better cameras and some more professional audio capture functions, but unless you create video professionally, the iPhone 16 is the best iPhone model to buy.
Nick Broughall
Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max
The iPhone 16 Pro Max is a powerhouse of a phone. It is the biggest device phone Apple has ever made, with a massive screen, tiny bezels and the most powerful mobile processor we've tested to date.
It's also super-expensive, so it's probably overkill for most people. The triple lens camera array takes fantastic photos and video, including 4K120fps cinematic slow motion.
The addition of a camera control button doesn't quite hit the mark – it's slightly awkward to reach given the size of this phone, and the half-press opens a control menu rather than autofocus your photo.
Apple launched the phone without Apple Intelligence, which means a lot of that processor power isn't really used yet, but you can rest assured you'll be future-proofed for a while.
Nick Broughall
Motorola RAZR 50 Ultra
Foldable phones have been around a few years now, but the RAZR 50 Ultra has cemented its position as one of the best folding options available.
Its external 4-inch screen is spectacular, wrapping around the camera lenses and offering a full mobile experience.
While previous flip phones have limited the functions of the external screen to simple widgets, the RAZR 50 Ultra gives you access to many of the apps installed on your phone.
The cameras take great photos, and while it offers a telephoto lens rather than an ultra-wide, it works, particularly when taking selfies.
Nick Broughall
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip6
The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5 was a fun phone, and the Flip6 follows suit. Its solid hinge and improved cameras make this a solid step up from last year's model.
But with the arrival of Motorola's RAZR 50 Ultra, the external screen feels disappointing. The Flip6 still only allows for certain widgets to be used on the external screen, rather than full apps.
There's a lot of focus on AI functionality, and with the Flip's design being focused on creativity, that has meant more "crappy image creation" AI features. The phone does support the same AI interpreter as the Fold6 though, which is a fantastic implementation of AI software.
Don't get me wrong, this is a solid phone, with plenty of power and a decent camera upgrade. It's just not as good at the RAZR.
Nick Broughall
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6
The Snapdragon 8 Gen3 processor in the Fold6 is a significant step up over last year's Fold5, but there haven't really been tooo many other significant hardware upgrades this year.
The dimensions are slightly different, and the phone is the first Samsung foldable to get an IP rating for dust protection, but most of the improvements this year are on the software front.
AI Interpreter is an incredible function that is a game changer for travellers, using both internal and external screens to have a conversation in two different languages.
It's also pretty useless for those who don't need to understand a foreign language, and not worth spending well over $2000 on.
Other AI features are less impressive, which makes it harder to recommend against the S24 Ultra.
Nick Broughall
Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus
While previous generations of the Plus-sized Galaxy S models didn't really offer much of a difference between the standard model and the Plus sized, this year Samsung upped the screen resolution and added a bit more RAM.
That extra RAM helps with the Exynos 2400 processor Samsung used for its standard models, reserving the SnapDragon 8 Gen 3 for the Ultra variant at the top of the list.
But the S24 is significantly cheaper than the S24 Ultra, and while it doesn't offer features like the S-Pen, it does have a strong camera array, plenty of battery life and Samsung's Galaxy AI features.
Overall it's an impressive smartphone with a strong performance.
Nick Broughall
Apple iPhone 15 Plus
Apple is one of the leading smartphone manufacturers for a reason. The iPhone 15 Plus is a stunning device, with brilliant battery life, a gorgeous screen and a strong camera offering.
With the arrival of the iPhone 16 family, the 15 Plus has seen a price drop, making it a more attractive option for the Apple-faithful.
But if you want a larger screen, and are on a tighter budget, you won't be too disappointed by the iPhone 15 Plus. It does everything you need it to do with style, even if the iPhone Pro would be better for many people.
Nick Broughall
ASUS ROG Phone 8 Pro Edition
The ROG Phone 8 Pro Edition is the top of the line gaming phone from ASUS, with some of the highest specs we've seen in a phone.
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor with 24GB RAM in the premium model is perfect for gaming, with deep customisation options to ensure you get the most out of each game.
You can customise the shoulder buttons and the phone even comes with a dedicated cooling attachment with a pair of extra buttons, making it easier to play competitive games on the phone.
The camera is solid, though not as strong as Apple or Samsung's offerings, and the screen is gorgeous.
Even though this is a phone designed for gamers, it's a great option for anyone after a premium smartphone.
Nick Broughall
Samsung Galaxy S24 FE
Samsung's Fan Edition of the excellent S24 smartphone is a hybrid of the S24 and S24 Plus.
It has a slightly chunkier build with a large 6.7-inch screen, plus a 4,700 mAh battery and a triple camera array on the back, but thanks to a few sacrifices in the specs, the newer phone is cheaper than both of the other S24 models.
Battery life is fantastic, and the Exynos 2300e processor is strong enough to let you play pretty intense games like Diablo Immortal or Call of Duty Mobile without any issues.
The biggest downside is that it has only just launched, and we know that the S25 will undoubtedly launch in the first quarter of next year. So should you buy this or hold out for the next generation? That's up to you.
Nick Broughall
Samsung Galaxy S24
While the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is the flagship with all the bells and whistles that sits at the top of this list, the entry-level S24 model is no slouch.
While it uses Samsung's own Exynos processor rather than the SnapDragon found in the Ultra model, it still performs incredibly responsively and fast.
Plus, it's smaller design makes it better suited to smaller hand sizes, though it does also mean a smaller battery capacity.
But you still get a great camera array and a brilliant screen, at a fraction of the price. If you are looking for a premium handset without a flagship price, this is a really good option.
Nick Broughall
How we chose the best mobile phones
I've reviewed hundreds of phones over my career, and more than 20 since I launched BTTR. In that time I learned that review sites - including this one - are subjective by nature. Everybody has a different opinion of what is best.
So for this guide, I’ve recommended my top phone choices from the models I have tested.
As I continue to test more smartphones, I’ll update this guide to ensure it is regularly up to date.
What to look for when choosing the best mobile phones
Whether you're after one of the models listed above or something completely different, the decision factors you need to consider when buying a new phone are the same.
iOS or Android
For better or worse, there are two options for mobile phone software when you are looking to buy a new smartphone.
That means the first decision you need to make is whether you want to buy an Apple phone running iOS, or a different brand running Android.
Both have their own strengths and weaknesses. Understanding which you prefer will go a long way in helping you decide what phone you should buy.
Design
More than any other piece of technology, the smartphone reflects who you are.
It is your central hub, connecting all the important parts of your life in one place, from messaging or calling friends to playing mobile games when you are bored.
But design isn't just about the look of the phone important to note that design isn't just about colours either. It's also about comfort. So if you have small hands, an extremely large device is going to be hard to use, and you should consider a device that is comfortable to hold.
Camera requirements
The best mobile phones are now so good they effectively replace the entire compact digital camera market.
But not every phone camera is equal. In fact, camera technology is one of the key differentiators between the best mobile phones today.
Look for multiple lenses for different functions like zoom or wide-angle shots. Consider the phone's ability to take wonderful photos in low light.
Battery life
For the vast majority of smartphones, you will get between 1-2 days worth of use before the battery runs out.
There are a few things you can do to maximise your phone's battery. Firstly, choosing a device with a larger battery can help. A 4,000mAh battery is more likely to last longer than a 2,800mAh battery, for example.
You can also choose a smartphone with an effective low-power mode. This mode will switch off a bunch of features when the battery starts to run low. This lets you prioritise battery over functionality.
Additionally, devices with fast charging can be plugged in for just a few minutes to recover a decent amount of battery power.
Display
Display size is important because it will impact the comfort of the phone. Not just in the hand, but also for your eyes.
But also look at things like the resolution of the screen and its refresh rate. Resolution refers to the number of pixels that make up the screen. The more pixels there are, the clearer the picture will be in most cases.
Refresh rate could be important if you plan on using the handset to play games or stream sports. Typically a higher refresh rate the better the phone will be at displaying fast moving objects.
Performance
Your new phone needs to do whatever you ask of it. The processors that power your phone can vary dramatically in performance.
If your phone is mostly for browsing Facebook or sending text messages, then you probably won't need a powerful processor. If you want to edit photos or play high-quality video games, you are going to need a processor built for performance.
Benchmark scores are an easy way to understand how good a processor is at doing its job. It's not foolproof though. Plenty of manufacturers have cheated to make their benchmark scores look better than they really are.
Price
Price is always an important decision factor. You may want one of the best mobile phones in the world, but your budget may not support that desire.
The good news is that it's fairly easy to get a great bargain on your next phone. Older models or mid-range phones offer a lot of the performance for a fraction of the price.
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