Which smartphone to choose in 2026

Start with the budget

Phones fall into three price groups, and in each one it is clear what you are paying for:

• Budget — calls, Telegram, YouTube and everyday photos.
• Mid-range — a better camera (optical stabilisation), a smooth 120 Hz screen and a faster chip.
• Flagship — the best camera, the brightest screen and power to spare for years.

Prices follow the dollar rate, so check the live price on the product cards below.

Budget phones

Samsung Galaxy A08 — the simplest, most dependable choice: a 6.7-inch 90 Hz screen, a 6,000 mAh battery, a memory card slot and a 3.5 mm headphone jack. The screen is IPS (HD+), so it is dimmer than AMOLED.

Samsung Galaxy A18 — the same price group with a Super AMOLED Full HD+ screen, so the picture is sharper and brighter.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 17 — when battery life comes first: 7,700 mAh, 45 W fast charging and a 6.99-inch 120 Hz AMOLED screen (1,800 nits). Comes in 4/128, 6/256 and 8/256 GB. No 5G — 4G only.

Mid-range

Galaxy A27 — a 120 Hz Super AMOLED screen, a 50 MP camera with optical image stabilisation (OIS) and IP67 water resistance.

Galaxy A37 — 8 GB of RAM, 4K video, 45 W charging and NFC.

Galaxy A57 — the strongest of the mid-range: Exynos 1580, an aluminium frame, Gorilla Glass Victus, Wi-Fi 6 and a 256 GB option.

Flagships

Galaxy S26 FE — the most affordable way into the S series: a 3x optical-zoom telephoto camera, Galaxy AI and wireless charging.

Galaxy S26 — the compact flagship: 6.3 inches, just 167 g, 12/256 GB and 8K video.

Galaxy S26 Ultra — the best of everything: a 200 MP camera with 5x optical zoom, a built-in S Pen, a titanium frame and a 6.8-inch screen at 2,600 nits.

Comparison table

What to look for

• Screen: AMOLED is brighter and more contrasty than IPS; 120 Hz makes scrolling smooth.
• Storage: 128 GB is enough for most people. If you shoot a lot of video, take 256 GB or a model with a memory card slot (A08, A18, Redmi Note 17).
• Camera: optical stabilisation (OIS) keeps photos sharp in the evening and on the move — the A27 and everything above it have it.
• Battery: 5,000 mAh lasts a day; 7,700 mAh lasts up to two.

Every phone is genuine and comes with a 12-month warranty. Can't decide? Leave your number and a manager will call back with advice. All models are in the smartphone catalog.