THE 7 BEST ANDROID PHONES AND IPHONES AVAILABLE TODAY

When it comes time to look for a new smartphone, one thing is clear — you have a lot of options. Apple introduced three new models in 2018, and there are innumerable Android devices from manufacturers such as Samsung, Google, Huawei, Sony and others to choose from.

A lot of people have a preference for Apple or Android, perhaps because they like a particular brand or because they're used to one of the operating systems. This narrows the field some, but the choice can still feel overwhelming.

This guide is designed to help you choose the right iPhone or Android phone for you. Just look at the feature that's most important to you — whether that's battery life, cost or style — to learn about our pick for the best phone in that category. You can also browse all the categories to learn more about the best phones on the market today. If you don't have a particular preference for Apple or Android, each section features the best of each so you can still find the phone that's right for you.

Best Performance

The first category we'll look at is performance, which has to do with a phone's CPU, RAM and how it uses the power it has available. Which phones can handle the heaviest workloads so that you can get the most done? Here's what you need to know.

1. The Best-Performing iPhone: The iPhone XS and XS Max

The iPhone with the best performance is a tie between the iPhone XS and the iPhone XS Max, which Apple released in September 2018. The reason for the tie? The phones have the same CPU and RAM. In fact, they're very similar across the board — the main difference is the size of the displays.

The iPhone XS and XS Max both feature the A12 Bionic processor, a 7 nanometer (nm) chip that's the most powerful of any phone, Androids included. The CPU features four efficiency cores that handle everyday tasks and use 50% less power than the A11 Bionic, according to Apple. Its two performance cores handle more intensive computational tasks and are up to 15% faster than the A11. The graphics performance is as much as 50% faster than the A11. The phones' Neural Engine powers artificial intelligence software used by the phone. Apple doesn't release official specs for RAM, but filings with a Chinese tech regulator revealed that the XS and XS Max both have 4GB.

Both the XS and XS Max are incredibly powerful phones. The iPhone XR isn't far behind either. It also has the A12 Bionic processor and a Neural Engine but has 3GB of RAM.

2. The Best-Performing Android Phone: The Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus

The Android phone with the best performance is the Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus. This device is super impressive all the way around, but one of its most spectacular qualities is its power.

The S10 Plus was the first phone in the U.S. to feature Qualcomm’s 7nm Snapdragon 855 processor. This powerful CPU scored a 144 Centurion Mark, a metric developed by Tech Centurion that takes into account raw benchmarks as well as real-world performance. The only CPU that has a higher score is Apple's A12 Bionic. The Snapdragon 855 features eight cores and includes faster CPU cores, an upgraded GPU and AI processing.

In the Geekbench 4 test, the S10 Plus scored a 10,732, which is higher than the score earned by the Galaxy Note 9, OnePlus 6T and Pixel 3, which all use 2018's Snapdragon 845. Although the S10 Plus lags behind the iPhone XS in total score, it beats it in several categories, including graphics.

According to Ookla, which gathered data from more than 600,000 tests on more than 200,000 devices, the S10 Plus displays extremely impressive download speeds that beat out all competitors — even Apple.

MOST STYLISH

With today's sleek designs, smartphones have the potential to be as much a fashion accessory as a helpful device. If you're wondering which phones will make you look the most stylish, we've got the info you need.

1. THE BEST-LOOKING IPHONE: THE IPHONE XR

Apple is known for its sleek, aesthetic designs, so you really can't go wrong in this category with an iPhone. The winner of the iPhone fashion show, however, is the iPhone XR, which Apple released in October — a month after the XS and XS Max hit the shelves.

The main reason for the XR's appeal in this category is the fact that it comes in six eye-catching colors — blue, red, yellow, coral, black and white. This contrasts with the XS and XS Max, which are only available in the more standard black, gold and silver. The slightly darker shade of the XR's metal edges provides a nice contrast to the vibrant hue of the back of the phone. With such beautiful, expressive colors, you'll want to invest in a clear case so you can show them off.

As mentioned earlier, there isn't really such a thing as an ugly iPhone, so there are lots of other options as well. If you prefer a larger screen, for example, the iPhone XS Max offers a massive 6.5 display with a notch and no home button.

2. THE BEST-LOOKING ANDROID PHONE: THE SAMSUNG GALAXY S9 PLUS

Our pick for the most stylish Android phone is the Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus, which features a beautiful 6.2-inch Super AMOLED Infinity Display with minimal bezels. The device's 1440 x 2960 pixel resolution ensures that the picture is beautiful as well.

Unlike most newer smartphones, the S9 Plus doesn't have a notch or, in the case of the S10 Plus, a circle cut out of the display. While this cut-out is useful as it makes room for the front camera, it disrupts the flow of the design. On the S9 Plus, the screen isn't interrupted at all, making for a sleek, cohesive look.

Like the iPhone XR, the S9 Plus comes in a variety of fun, aesthetically pleasing colors — Lilac Purple, Midnight Black, Titanium Gray, Coral Blue, Sunrise Gold, Burgundy Red, and Polaris Blue.

The S9 Plus isn't just a pretty face though. It's also an all-around solid phone that's powered by either an Exynos 9810 or Snapdragon 845 chipset with 6GB of RAM, an outstanding camera, wireless charging, and an iris scanner.

BEST BATTERY LIFE

Don't want to have to worry about whether you have your charger and where the nearest outlet is? Choose one of these phones, which have the best battery life in the biz.

1. THE IPHONE WITH THE BEST BATTERY LIFE: THE IPHONE XR

The iPhone XR lasts 1.5 hours longer than the iPhone 8 Plus and narrowly beats out the iPhone XS Max for best battery life in an iPhone. The XR boasts a pretty impressive battery life that should provide more than enough juice for most users. Thanks to the phone's 2,942mAh lithium-ion battery, it has the following official battery life specs:

• Talk time (wireless): Up to 25 hours
• Internet use: Up to 15 hours
• Video playback (wireless): Up to 16 hours
• Audio playback (wireless): Up to 65 hours

You can charge your iPhone XR using a wireless charger or a USB connected to a computer or a power adaptor. It's also fast-charge capable and can get up to a 50% charge in just half an hour if you use an 18W adapter or higher, which is sold separately.

2. THE ANDROID PHONE WITH THE BEST BATTERY LIFE: THE HUAWEI MATE 20 PRO

The best Android phone for someone who wants exceptional battery life is the Huawei Mate 20 Pro. You can easily get two full days of regular usage out of this phone thanks to its 4,200mAh battery and its power management optimization capabilities.

The Mate 20 Pro charges quickly too. With Huawei’s proprietary Super Charge technology, it can go from zero to a full charge in 70 minutes. It also has a fun new feature called reverse charging, which enables it to charge other devices wirelessly. Just set your friend's phone on top like it's a wireless charging mat to give their device a boost in battery charge.

You don't have to make sacrifices in performance or features for the excellent battery life, either. The Mate Pro 20 is powered by Huawei’s Hisilicon Kirin 980 processor and has 6GB of RAM, a 6.39-inch AMOLED Quad HD+ display and a powerful triple-lens main camera.

BEST SPEAKERS

If you're a bit of an audiophile, your phone's speakers are a priority. Whether you're listening to music, watching videos or gaming, the sound of these phones' speakers is sure to be music to your ears.

1. THE IPHONE WITH THE BEST SPEAKERS: THE IPHONE XR, XS, AND XS MAX

The iPhone XR, XS and XS Max all come with the same speaker setup, so they all take the top spot for best-sounding iPhone. According to Apple, all three of its latest phones have wider stereo playback than their predecessors. They also feature a user-configurable max volume limit and support a variety of audio formats including MP3, FLAC, AAC-LC, HE-AAC, HE-AAC v2, Protected AAC, Dolby Digital (AC-3), Dolby Digital Plus (E-AC-3), Linear PCM, Apple Lossless and Audible formats.

The bottoms of the phones have two speakers on either side of their Lightning Connectors, and the volume rockers are on the left sides of the devices. They don't have headphone jacks, but they do come with EarPods and a Lightning Connector.

2. THE ANDROID PHONE WITH THE BEST SPEAKERS: THE RAZER PHONE

You probably know Razer as a gaming hardware company, but it makes phones too, and the speakers on its phones are the loudest in-phone speakers money can buy. This device is an excellent choice if you want superior sound quality for gaming, music or anything else.

The Razer Phone has Dolby Atmos speakers that deliver loud, high-quality stereo sound. It doesn't have a headphone output, but it does come with an adaptor, and you can, of course, use Bluetooth headphones if you want an in-ear listening experience.

This device also has other features that make it a top choice for media enthusiasts. It has a crisp 120Hz display, HDR support, plenty of power and a long-lasting battery.

BEST ALL-AROUND PHONE

So far, we've looked at the phones with the most power, best aesthetics, best battery life, and best speakers. But what about the phones that perform the best across the board? If you want the ultimate smartphone, these are the ones you should spring for.

1. THE BEST ALL-AROUND IPHONE: THE IPHONE XS MAX

If you want the ultimate iPhone, the iPhone XS Max is the phone for you. It's packed full of the latest features, has lots of power and boasts a beautiful 6.5-inch display. With a base price of $999 new, it isn't cheap, but you do get a lot of bang for your buck. Plus, buying a used or refurbished XS Max can save you money.

The XS Max runs on the powerful A12 Bionic processor and has an OLED display, dual cameras on the back, new depth-adjusting features, Face ID for unlocking your phone, stronger glass and improved water resistance. The 6.5-inch top-to-bottom screen, which has a notch cut out for the front-facing camera, allows for immersive app and media experiences. The battery life is only slightly less than that of the iPhone XR with up to 25 hours of wireless talk time, 13 hours of internet use, 15 hours of video playback and 65 hours of audio playback.

The base model features 64GB of storage, but you can upgrade to 256GB or 512GB and add fast-charging for a bit extra as well. If you want a phone with all the features of the XS Max but with a smaller screen, choose the iPhone XS.

2. THE BEST ALL-AROUND ANDROID PHONE: THE SAMSUNG GALAXY S10 PLUS

If you're in the market for the best-of-the-best Android phone, look no further than the Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus. This device features a powerful CPU, beautiful graphics, 6.4-inch screen, impressive camera and a fast, user-friendly operating system. Like the iPhone XS Max, it sells for a base price of $999.

Here are some of the specs for the S10 Plus:

• CPU: Either the Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 or the Exynos 9820
• RAM: 8GB
• Storage: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB or 1TB
• Battery: 4,100mAh
• Resolution: QHD+

The S10 Plus features a 6.4-inch AMOLED panel, which provides breathtaking imagery and vivid colors. The phone is also the first to feature the Infinity-O design, meaning there's a circular cut-out in the top-right corner of the screen, rather than a notch, for the front-facing camera.

The cameras on the S10 Plus are impressive. It has dual selfie cameras that enable Live Focus pictures and a rear-mounted triple camera that includes a new ultra-wide angle camera.

It also runs on the new One UI operating system, which is based on Android Pie and makes using the phone exceptionally easy. It moves all of the elements you need to tap to the bottom third of the screen so that they're always within reach, even on such a large display. If you're looking for the ultimate Android, this phone is the way to go.