The best phone to buy right now

The AI phones are here, but that doesn't mean they've really arrived. The year's hottest trend is trickling down to mobile tech, but the results so far are a mixed bag, to say the least. Samsung and Google have a lot of AI tricks on their phones that don't really amount to much yet, and Apple is scrambling to catch up. AI really could be the start of helpful new ways to interact with our phones! But we're definitely not there yet. In the meantime, be prepared to hear a lot more about AI on your next phone - and temper your expectations.

A lot of people in the US get their phones through carrier deals, and no judgment here if that's the route you take - it's how I bought mine. Just be sure you know what you're getting into and how many years you'll need to stay on that Super 5G Everything Unlimited Plus plan to keep the monthly device reimbursements coming.

If you're looking to spend a little less and still get the best smartphone on a budget, you can find something really good for under $500. For those recommendations, check out our guide to budget smartphones.

The best iPhone for most people

iPhone 16$799Apple's baseline iPhone has a 6.1-inch screen, two rear cameras in a rearranged vertical layout, a customizable Action Button, and a new Camera Control button. It's set to receive a score of AI software features as Apple rolls out Apple Intelligence.$799 at Apple$799 at Best Buy$799 at Target

Screen: 6.1-inch, 2556 x 1179 OLED, 60Hz refresh rate / Processor: A18 Cameras: 48-megapixel f/1.6 main with sensor-shift IS; 12-megapixel ultrawide; 12-megapixel selfie / Battery: Not advertised / Charging: 27W wired, 25W wireless MagSafe, 15W Qi2, 7.5W Qi / Weather-resistance rating: IP68

From a hardware perspective, the iPhone 16 (or the 16 Plus) is an easy upgrade choice. If you're switching from an iPhone 13, 12, or even older, those four or five years of incremental performance improvements add up. But there's something entirely new this time around - well, two things: the Action Button and the Camera Control button.