5 of the best smartphones
From the Apple iphone 11 to "a swiftly rising flagship killer" ...

1. Samsung Galaxy S10 ($900)
With the latest edition of its flagship phone, Samsung "has really delivered," writes Sam Rutherford at Gizmodo. The firm's displays remain "the best in the business," and this model has a triple-lens rear camera, an in-screen fingerprint sensor, 128 GB of base storage, and "ridiculously good" battery life. Buy it at Samsung.
2. Apple iPhone 11 ($699)
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The top models cost $1,000 and more, but Apple is wisely letting most buyers get the latest iPhone at a mid-tier price. It runs on the fastest chipset around, and its cameras now feature an ultrawide-angle lens and an excellent Night Mode. Buy it at Apple.
3. OnePlus 7 Pro ($649)
"A swiftly rising flagship killer," OnePlus makes smartphones with specs comparable to Samsung's. With a 90-hz AMOLED screen and the same snappy processor as the Galaxy S10, the 7 Pro is "by far the best value for a premium smartphone today," per Sascha Segan and Steven Winkelman at PC Mag. Buy it at OnePlus.
4. Google Pixel 3a ($399)
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
If your budget is $400, "you cannot find a better phone than this," writes Jeffrey Van Camp at Wired. Though it lacks certain luxury features, the Pixel 3a "manages to feel like a high-end $800 phone in the ways that matter most," beginning with a camera that's "as good as anything you can buy." Buy it at Google.
5. Motorola Moto G7 Power ($249)
Though Motorola's middle child gets by with slightly less RAM, storage space, and one fewer camera than the $299 Moto G7, it's the better choice, because the G7 Power's battery can last three days. "There's simply no better deal for a smartphone under $250," writes Mark Spoonauer at Tom's Guide. Buy it at Amazon.
Editor's note: Every week The Week's editors survey product reviews and articles in websites, newspapers, and magazines, to find cool and useful new items we think you'll like. We're now making it easier to purchase these selections through affiliate partnerships with certain retailers. The Week may get a share of the revenue from these purchases.
-
Book reviews: ‘Red Scare: Blacklists, McCarthyism, and the Making of Modern America’ and ‘How to End a Story: Collected Diaries, 1978–1998’
Feature A political ‘witch hunt’ and Helen Garner’s journal entries
By The Week US Published
-
The backlash against ChatGPT's Studio Ghibli filter
The Explainer The studio's charming style has become part of a nebulous social media trend
By Theara Coleman, The Week US Published
-
Why are student loan borrowers falling behind on payments?
Today's Big Question Delinquencies surge as the Trump administration upends the program
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
'Like a sound from hell': Serbia and sonic weapons
The Explainer Half a million people sign petition alleging Serbian police used an illegal 'sound cannon' to disrupt anti-government protests
By Abby Wilson Published
-
The arrest of the Philippines' former president leaves the country's drug war in disarray
In the Spotlight Rodrigo Duterte was arrested by the ICC earlier this month
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Ukrainian election: who could replace Zelenskyy?
The Explainer Donald Trump's 'dictator' jibe raises pressure on Ukraine to the polls while the country is under martial law
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Why Serbian protesters set off smoke bombs in parliament
THE EXPLAINER Ongoing anti-corruption protests erupted into full view this week as Serbian protesters threw the country's legislature into chaos
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Who is the Hat Man? 'Shadow people' and sleep paralysis
In Depth 'Sleep demons' have plagued our dreams throughout the centuries, but the explanation could be medical
By The Week Staff Published
-
Why Assad fell so fast
The Explainer The newly liberated Syria is in an incredibly precarious position, but it's too soon to succumb to defeatist gloom
By The Week UK Published
-
Romania's election rerun
The Explainer Shock result of presidential election has been annulled following allegations of Russian interference
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Russia's shadow war in Europe
Talking Point Steering clear of open conflict, Moscow is slowly ratcheting up the pressure on Nato rivals to see what it can get away with.
By The Week UK Published