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Why trust us? | How we test
There are too many smartphones launching every month for a site like this to review every model. Honestly, just trying to stay on top of the news of phones launching can be overwhelming.
But I have tested a lot of phones and written reviews over the past few years. Over 50 since I launched BTTR, and countless more during my time editing Finder, TechRadar Australia and Gizmodo Australia.
One truth I've found in my time testing smartphones is that not everyone is after the same thing. For some, the best camera is essential. For others, it's the app selection. For most people, it's something that's easy to use, and does what it needs to without being confusing.
So this list isn't an objective list of the best phones in Australia right now. It's my list of my favourite phones from all the models I've tested here at BTTR. It's based on my personal preference.
If you disagree with my pics, tell me about it! I'd love to know what phone you think should sit at the top of the list here.
These are the best mobile phones I've tested:
My top pick: Apple iPhone 17 Pro
Android is arguably a faster moving platform than iOS in many ways. Its more open nature allows it to push forward on features in a way that Apple is a bit slower with.
But because there are so many different Android phone brands, it just doesn't deliver the same level of intuitive optimisation to the hardware as iOS. Apple's ecosystem is polished and refined in a way Android just doesn't offer. While it's not as open, iOS is easier to use, without compromising power.
The best iOS-powered phone is the iPhone 17 Pro. It's the device I keep going back to after testing a phone.
The camera array is powerful. It's maybe slightly behind in some areas, like extreme zoom compared to the Galaxy S26, but for day to day photography and portraits I love the quality of the images.
Even better is the power inside. For the past couple of months I've been playing Red Dead Redemption on this phone, and while the screen is maybe a bit small to deliver that same experience I had when I first played the game on the PS3, it's still the same game. And it's incredible (though you do need a game controller like the BackBone Pro to really enjoy it).
While it's not the most expensive phone in Apple's lineup, it does come close. If you can sacrifice the camera performance a bit, the iPhone 17 is a very worthy substitute. But if money is no object, this is the phone I would choose to buy.
Nick Broughall
My favourite Android: Motorola Signature
I've been waiting for Motorola to get back in the premium performance smartphone space for years. The RAZR family has been exceptional from a design perspective, but its processing power has always felt a little underwhelming.
The Signature is Motorola's proclamation that it can compete with the big boys. Bringing the stylish, colourful, Pantone design aesthetic to its new flagship, this phone delivers impressive performance, coupled with a glorious screen and one of the best camera systems on an Android phone.
That's not my opinion, by the way. That comes directly from DXOMARK, who awarded the phone its Gold Label award, one of only eight smartphones to receive the award this year (so far).
The phone itself is exceptionally sleek, feels great in the hand and has a whole bunch of subtle Motorola exclusive improvements, like the textured back and the ability to launch the flashlight with a double chop action.
The battery is huge at 6,200 mAh, giving you plenty of juice. The only real downside is that there's now Qi2 magnets to offer faster wireless charging. I love Apple's MagSafe charging, and Android manufacturers are really dragging their feet on rolling out Qi2. It's mind-boggling.
In any case, the other great thing about the Signature is its price. At $1,499 RRP, it's not cheap, but it's definitely cheaper than some other brands' flagship devices.
Nick Broughall
Best all-rounder: Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
The Galaxy S26 Ultra is just one of those devices that does everything. It has one of the most impressive processors in a smartphone I've tested, plus Samsung's always exceptional camera and screen technology.
But this year's version of the S series flagship has an extra trick up its sleeve. The S26 Ultra features a technology called Privacy Display, which literally changes the way the pixels work to reduce the viewing angle on the phone, preventing anyone other than yourself from peeking at your screen.
It is a brilliant technology, and it's only available on Samsung phones. It's a very clear reason to buy the S26 Ultra, particularly if you manage sensitive documents on your phone regularly.
Also impressive is the camera's super zoom capability. combining the optical sensors with digital AI enhancements, zooming in 100x gives you an image quality that's completely unreasonable. It's nowhere near optical quality in terms of detail or noise, but you can make out facial features of people on the other side of a sports stadium. Mind-blowing.
Like the Motorola Signature, this device lacks Qi2 magnets in the phone's body, which is a massive disappointment, though Samsung does sell a case to give you that magnetic alignment.
It's on the pricey side, but Samsung's top S-series device is still great value.
Nick Broughall
Best folding phone: OPPO Find N6
There are two styles of folding phone on the market now: The book fold or the flip phone style. They cater to very different purposes – The book style design is all about power and productivity, whereas the flip-style is more about design and aesthetics.
Regardless of the style though, one consistent feature of both has been the presence of a crease in the middle of the screen where the phone folds
OPPO's Find N series has been knocking on the door of the foldable scene for years. The N6, this year's version, blew my mind when I cracked it open by offering a nearly creaseless display.
To be clear, there is still a bit of a crease. But you have to actively look for it. In day to day use, you won't notice it either visually or when touching that internal screen.
That in itself isn't enough to make this list, though. OPPO has also partnered with Hasselblad on the camera array, and the image quality from this phone is fantastic. There are a few bespoke shooting modes that are more confusing than useful, but from the standard camera app you get incredible shots.
The phone also has plenty of grunt for multi-tasking and gaming, if you need it.
The foldable market is about to get an influx of new devices, so it will be interesting to see if OPPO can hold out the competition. But right now, it's one of my favourite devices.
Nick Broughall
How we chose the best mobile phones
I've been testing phones since 2004 professionally. I travelled to New Zealand to cover the sale of the very first iPhone 3G, back in the day. And since I launched BTTR, I've reviewed more than 50 smartphones.
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.
Smartphones I've reviewed for this guide
- Google Pixel 7
- Google Pixel 6a
- Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
- Samsung Galaxy A54
- OPPO A98 5G
- Aspera AS8
- Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5
- Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5
- Apple iPhone 15 Pro
- Apple iPhone 15 Plus
- OPPO Reno10 5G
- Google Pixel 8
- OPPO A79 5G
- Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
- OPPO A18
- Samsung Galaxy S24
- Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus
- Motorola Moto G84
- Samsung Galaxy A55
- Motorola Moto G54
- Aspera Nitro 2
- ASUS ROG Phone 8 Pro Edition
- TCL NXTPAPER 40
- Nothing Phone (2)
- Nothing Phone (2a)
- Motorola RAZR 50 Ultra
- Samsung Galaxy Z Flip6
- Motorola Moto Edge 50 Pro
- Motorola Moto Edge 50 Fusion
- Motorola Moto g34 5G
- Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6
- OPPO A80 5G
- Motorola Moto Edge 50
- Motorola Moto Edge 50 Neo
- HMD Skyline
- Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max
- Samsung Galaxy S24 FE
- Apple iPhone 16
- OPPO Reno12 5G
- Samsung Galaxy A36
- OPPO Reno13 5G
- Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7
- Motorola Moto Edge 60 Pro
- Motorola Moto RAZR 60
- Apple iPhone 17 Pro
- Nothing Phone (3)
- Apple iPhone Air
- Apple iPhone 17
- Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
- Samsung Galaxy A37
- Motorola Signature
- OPPO Find N6
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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