Get Pixel 11 Pro for Google's Pro cameras in a smaller phone: the same 5x telephoto and 120x Pro Zoom as the 6.8-inch Pro XL, at 6.3 inches.1 / 6
Phones
iPhone, Pixel, Galaxy and OnePlus, from the makers’ own specs: the cameras, how long the battery lasts and how fast it charges, and how many years of updates you get. Pick a phone, or put two side by side.
Get Pixel 11 Pro for Google's Pro cameras in a smaller phone: the same 5x telephoto and 120x Pro Zoom as the 6.8-inch Pro XL, at 6.3 inches.
Get Galaxy S26 Ultra for the built-in S Pen, Privacy Display and a 200MP main camera with 3x and 5x telephotos, from $1,299.99.2 / 6
Get Galaxy Z Fold8 for a book-style foldable that opens to a 7.6-inch screen, at $1,899.99 and 201 grams, both less than the Ultra.3 / 6
Buy iPhone 17 Pro at a discount for its 8x optical-quality zoom, 18MP Center Stage front camera and fast charging; iPhone 18 Pro replaced it at $1,199.4 / 6
Get Google Pixel 11 for Tensor G6, a 5x telephoto and 30+ hours of battery at $899; the $1,099 Pixel 11 Pro adds Super Actua, 120x Pro Zoom and Wi-Fi 7.5 / 6
Get Galaxy S26 if you want the S26 series in its smallest size: 6.3 inches, 167 grams and $899.99 with 256GB, plus seven years of updates.6 / 6
Photos from Amazon listings and Wikimedia Commons.
Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. See Affiliate disclosure. This guide summarizes the makers’ published specs below — we haven’t tested them ourselves. See Methodology.
Start here
2026
Google Pixel 10a
Buy Google Pixel 10a if your budget is $499: you get 7 years of updates, a 30+ hour battery and IP68, but no telephoto and no Pixelsnap charging.
Google Pixel 11
Get Google Pixel 11 for Tensor G6, a 5x telephoto and 30+ hours of battery at $899; the $1,099 Pixel 11 Pro adds Super Actua, 120x Pro Zoom and Wi-Fi 7.
Google Pixel 11 Pro
Get Pixel 11 Pro for Google's Pro cameras in a smaller phone: the same 5x telephoto and 120x Pro Zoom as the 6.8-inch Pro XL, at 6.3 inches.
Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold
Get Pixel 11 Pro Fold if you want an 8-inch screen that folds into a 6.5-inch phone; it costs $1,899, against $1,099 for Pixel 11 Pro.
Google Pixel 11 Pro XL
Get Pixel 11 Pro XL for a bigger screen, a bigger battery and faster wired charging than Pixel 11 Pro, with the same cameras and Tensor G6 chip.
Samsung Galaxy S26
Get Galaxy S26 if you want the S26 series in its smallest size: 6.3 inches, 167 grams and $899.99 with 256GB, plus seven years of updates.
Samsung Galaxy S26+
Get Galaxy S26+ if you want S26's cameras with a bigger 6.7-inch QHD+ screen, a 4,900 mAh battery and 45W charging, for $1,099.99.
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
Get Galaxy S26 Ultra for the built-in S Pen, Privacy Display and a 200MP main camera with 3x and 5x telephotos, from $1,299.99.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip8
Get Galaxy Z Flip8 if you want a 6.9-inch phone that folds in half: at 180 grams it's Samsung's lightest Flip, from $1,199.99.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8
Get Galaxy Z Fold8 for a book-style foldable that opens to a 7.6-inch screen, at $1,899.99 and 201 grams, both less than the Ultra.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra
Get Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra for an 8.0-inch inner screen, a 6.5-inch cover screen and a 200MP camera with a 3x telephoto, from $2,099.99.
2025
Google Pixel 10
Get Google Pixel 10 below its $799 launch price for Tensor G5, a 5x telephoto and 7 years of updates; the Pixel 11 series has replaced it.
Google Pixel 10 Pro
Google Pixel 10 Pro is worth buying at a discount for Pro cameras in a 6.3-inch body: a 50MP main camera, a 48MP 5x telephoto, 100x Pro Zoom and 8K video.
Google Pixel 9a
Choose a Pixel 9a over a Pixel 10a only if it's cheaper: both launched at $499 with Tensor G4, and the 9a still has more than five years of updates.
iPhone 17
Get iPhone 17 for a 120Hz Always-On screen, a 48MP Ultra Wide and 256GB at the same $799 launch price as iPhone 16; the 17 Pro adds a 4x telephoto.
iPhone 17 Pro
Buy iPhone 17 Pro at a discount for its 8x optical-quality zoom, 18MP Center Stage front camera and fast charging; iPhone 18 Pro replaced it at $1,199.
OnePlus 15
Get OnePlus 15 for battery and charging: a 7,300 mAh cell, 80W wired and 50W wireless charging, and a 165Hz screen, from $899.99 in the US.
Samsung Galaxy S25
Get Galaxy S25 at a discount if you want S25 Ultra's Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy and seven years of updates in a 6.2-inch, 162-gram phone.
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
Buy Galaxy S25 Ultra only well below its $1,299.99 launch price: it has the S Pen, a 200MP camera, 3x and 5x telephotos and seven years of updates.
2024
Google Pixel 8a
Get Pixel 8a if you want Pixel 8's chip and 7-year update promise for less: it launched at $499, against Pixel 8's $699 launch price.
Google Pixel 9
Keep the Pixel 9 you have, and buy one secondhand only well below its $799 launch price: about five years of updates remain, but it has no telephoto.
Google Pixel 9 Pro
Buy a used Pixel 9 Pro if you want a 5x telephoto and 16GB of RAM in a 6.3-inch phone, and keep yours: updates run about five more years.
iPhone 16
Get iPhone 16 for Camera Control and a 48MP camera in a light 6.1-inch phone; pay up for the 16 Pro only if you want 5x zoom and a 120Hz Always-On screen.
iPhone 16 Plus
Get iPhone 16 Plus for the big 6.7-inch screen and battery life that matches the 16 Pro's 27 hours of video; it launched at $899, the Pro at $999.
iPhone 16 Pro
Get iPhone 16 Pro for a 5x telephoto and a 120Hz Always-On screen in titanium; the 17 Pro and 18 Pro move to a 48MP 4x camera and 3000-nit screens.
Samsung Galaxy S24
Buy a used Galaxy S24 if you want a compact Samsung with years of support left: its seven-year update promise has more than four years to run.
Samsung Galaxy S24+
Get a Galaxy S24+ if you want a big QHD+ screen and 45W charging without paying for an Ultra: it has 12GB of RAM and more than four years of updates left.
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
Get Galaxy S24 Ultra used or on clearance if you want the S Pen, a 200MP camera and both 3x and 5x zoom without paying for a newer Ultra.
2023
Google Pixel 8
Pixel 8 is a sensible used buy if you want a compact Pixel with about four years of updates left and can do without a telephoto lens.
Google Pixel 8 Pro
Buy Pixel 8 Pro used if you want a big Pixel with a 5x telephoto and a 48MP ultrawide: Google's updates for it run about four more years.
iPhone 15
Get iPhone 15 if you want USB-C, Dynamic Island and a 48MP camera and can live without iPhone 16's Camera Control, A18 chip and 25W MagSafe charging.
iPhone 15 Pro
Keep or buy iPhone 15 Pro if a 6.1-inch screen and 3x zoom are enough: it has USB-C at 10Gb/s, the Action Button and Apple Intelligence support.
Samsung Galaxy S23
Buy Galaxy S23 used or refurbished if you want a compact Samsung with a 3x telephoto; Galaxy S24 adds 7 years of updates in nearly the same size.
Samsung Galaxy S23+
Keep a Galaxy S23+ that still works, but only buy one cheap: the S24+ launched at the same $999.99 with QHD+, 12GB of RAM and seven years of updates.
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
The Galaxy S23 Ultra is still worth keeping for its 10x zoom and S Pen, but don't pay much for one: it has about a year and a half of security updates left.
2022
Google Pixel 7
Buy Pixel 7 only at a refurbished or clearance price: Google's 2022 compact Pixel gets 5 years of updates from its October 2022 launch.
Google Pixel 7 Pro
Keep a Pixel 7 Pro you own for its 5x telephoto and 6.7-inch QHD+ screen, but don't pay much for one: its updates end in about a year.
iPhone 14
Keep iPhone 14 if yours still works, and buy one only cheap: it has satellite SOS and Crash Detection, but Lightning, a 12MP camera and no Dynamic Island.
iPhone 14 Pro
Keep iPhone 14 Pro for its 48MP camera, 3x zoom and Always-On ProMotion screen; buy one used only for clearly less than an iPhone 15 Pro, which adds USB-C.
iPhone SE (3rd generation)
Get iPhone SE (3rd generation) if you want Touch ID in a small, cheap iPhone: it has the A15 Bionic and 5G, but one rear camera and a 4.7-inch LCD.
2021
iPhone 13
Pick iPhone 13 over an iPhone 12 at a similar price: it starts at 128GB instead of 64GB, its screen is rated at 800 nits, and it plays up to 19 hours of video.
iPhone 13 mini
Get iPhone 13 mini only if size comes first: it's the last 5.4-inch iPhone, at 141 grams, with the same A15 chip and dual 12MP cameras as iPhone 13.
iPhone 13 Pro
Choose iPhone 13 Pro for ProMotion, a 3x telephoto and up to 22 hours of video at a used price; iPhone 14 Pro adds Dynamic Island and a 48MP main camera.
2020
iPhone 12
Keep iPhone 12 if it still works, and buy one only if it's cheap: iPhone 13 launched at the same $799 with twice the base storage and a brighter screen.
iPhone 12 Pro
Keep iPhone 12 Pro if you own one; buy one only well below the price of an iPhone 13 Pro, which adds ProMotion, a 3x telephoto and five more hours of video.
Comparisons
Pixel 11 Pro Fold vs Pixel 11 Pro XL
Pixel 11 Pro Fold adds an 8-inch inner screen for $1,899; Pixel 11 Pro XL costs $1,299 and has the bigger battery, larger camera sensors and Pro Zoom up to 120x.
Pixel 11 Pro Fold vs Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra
Pixel 11 Pro Fold is the $1,899 fold with IP68, a 5x telephoto and seven years of updates; Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra is the $2,099.99 fold with a 200MP camera, 8K video and a thinner, lighter body, rated IP48.
Pixel 11 Pro vs Pixel 11 Pro Fold
Pixel 11 Pro is the lighter $1,099 phone with the bigger camera sensors and Pro Zoom up to 120x; Pixel 11 Pro Fold costs $1,899 and opens to an 8-inch screen.
Pixel 11 Pro vs Pixel 11 Pro XL
Pixel 11 Pro and Pixel 11 Pro XL have the same cameras and chip; the $1,299 XL adds a 6.8-inch screen, a bigger battery and faster wired charging to the $1,099 Pro.
Pixel 11 Pro vs iPhone 17 Pro
Google Pixel 11 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro both launched at $1,099; the Pixel is the newer Android phone with a 5x telephoto and 8K video, the iPhone is Apple's 2025 Pro with ProRes video and LiDAR.
Pixel 11 vs Pixel 11 Pro
Pixel 11 is the $899 phone with the same chip and a bigger battery; Pixel 11 Pro costs $1,099 and adds a sharper Super Actua screen, bigger camera sensors, Pro Zoom up to 120x and Wi-Fi 7.
Pixel 9 Pro vs iPhone 16 Pro
Two $999 compact Pros from 2024: Pixel 9 Pro has 16GB of RAM, a 4,700mAh battery and a 7-year update promise, while iPhone 16 Pro has titanium, Camera Control and ProRes video.
iPhone 13 vs iPhone 12
iPhone 13 and iPhone 12 share a 6.1-inch screen, Lightning and a $799 launch price; iPhone 13 starts at 128GB, not 64GB, with the A15 Bionic, a brighter screen and longer battery life.
iPhone 14 Pro vs iPhone 13 Pro
iPhone 14 Pro adds Dynamic Island, an always-on display, a 48MP main camera, Crash Detection and satellite SOS to iPhone 13 Pro's 6.1-inch ProMotion design; both still charge through Lightning.
iPhone 17 Pro vs iPhone 16 Pro
iPhone 17 Pro keeps iPhone 16 Pro's 6.3-inch screen but swaps titanium for aluminum and adds a 3,000-nit outdoor peak, longer battery life and a 48MP 4x telephoto, from $1,099 against $999.
iPhone 16 Pro vs Galaxy S25 Ultra
iPhone 16 Pro is the $999 6.3-inch titanium phone with Camera Control and ProRes video; Galaxy S25 Ultra is the $1,299.99 6.9-inch phone with an S Pen, a 200MP camera and a 5,000mAh battery.
iPhone 16 vs iPhone 16 Pro
iPhone 16 is the $799 aluminum phone with a 2x crop from its main camera; iPhone 16 Pro is the $999 titanium phone with a 5x tetraprism telephoto, ProMotion and USB 3.
Galaxy S26 Ultra vs Galaxy S25 Ultra
Galaxy S26 Ultra trades titanium for a thinner aluminum frame and adds Privacy Display, an F1.4 main camera and 60W charging, keeping Galaxy S25 Ultra's 5,000mAh battery and $1,299.99 launch price.
Galaxy Z Flip8 vs Galaxy Z Fold8
Galaxy Z Flip8 is the 180-gram clamshell from $1,199.99 and Galaxy Z Fold8 the 201-gram book fold with a 7.6-inch inner screen from $1,899.99; they share a chip, and neither has a telephoto camera.
Galaxy Z Fold8 vs Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra
Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra costs $200 more than Galaxy Z Fold8 ($2,099.99 against $1,899.99) and adds a 3x telephoto, a 200MP main camera, an 8.0-inch inner screen and a 6.5-inch cover, on the same chip.