Phones Features
The best phones in 2026: our 14 favorite smartphones right now
Here are the best smartphones on the market today, from the Galaxy S26 Ultra to the iPhone 17. if you're shopping for a new phone, this roundup is for you.
Android desktop mode made me miss my laptop in record time
Android desktop mode can turn a phone into a nearly usable workstation, but one workday with WordPress, browser tools, and a pile of accessories made the laptop look mercifully honest.
After test-driving iOS 27, my iPhone still doesn’t feel like it has made a substantial leap
After testing iOS 27, one conclusion is hard to avoid: Apple isn't iterating anymore. It's maintained. And the iPhone is better off for it.
Android 17 makes a strong case for ignoring Android version numbers entirely
Android 17 has useful changes, but when the best everyday update is a Quick Settings button that finally makes sense again, the annual version number starts looking pretty hollow.
OPPO’s Bubble made me wish magnetic accessories were this fun
The Oppo Bubble is a magnetic AMOLED accessory for compatible OPPO phones that works as a custom display, animated badge, and rear-camera viewfinder.
Finding photos is so much easier with Siri AI in iOS 27 that I no longer scroll
A firsthand look at iOS 27's Siri photo search feature on the developer beta, covering what the feature handles well and where it still falls short.
I tried a hidden video trick in iOS 27, and it saved me a ton of frustration
iOS 27 lets you save any video frame as a photo directly from the Photos app, with better resolution and smaller file size than taking a screenshot.
I tried the AI-powered Extend photo trick in iOS 27, and it blew past my expectations
A hands-on look at iOS 27's new Extend feature in the Photos app, tested across selfies, food shots, landscapes, and indoor scenes on an iPhone 17.
This free iPhone app uses soothing haptics to help you calm down
A new wellness app called Vän turns gentle phone vibrations into calming sensations, with with no account, subscription, or data collection involved.
The OPPO Find X9 Ultra didn’t need its camera kit to impress me
From Computex show floors to Taipei's neon-lit streets, the OPPO Find X9 Ultra delivered stunning photos, incredible zoom, and flagship camera performance without needing its optional camera kit.
iOS 27 developer beta 2 is here. Here are all the new features you get
Apple's iOS 27 developer beta 2 is here with a much faster Siri, a fixed crop bug, Wallet Insight, inline RCS replies, and a handful of other welcome tweaks. Here's everything new.
I replaced pricey Apple extras with Xiaomi gear, and it went better than expected
Xiaomi’s UltraThin Magnetic Power Bank 5000 15W and Redmi Buds 8 Pro offer a surprisingly polished alternative to Apple’s pricier battery pack and AirPods Pro.
Apple is finally letting me rate my photos, and I can’t stop using it
The iOS 27 developer beta hides a star rating feature in the iPhone Photos app. Here's how to enable it, rate your photos, and filter your library to find your best shots in seconds.
I’ve used Apple gear for years, and right now is the best time to buy from the used shelf
Apple plans to raise iPhone prices as a global memory shortage pushes costs higher. After years of buying Apple gear new, here's why I think the used shelf is starting to look like the smarter move.
Apple has a stacked product lineup slated for later this year
Apple may be gearing up for one of its busiest product cycles in years. From a foldable iPhone to camera-equipped AirPods and smart glasses, the company's roadmap looks surprisingly packed.
iOS 27’s Liquid Glass slider looks simple, but it’s more useful than I expected
After using iOS 27 on my iPhone for over a week, I've found the Liquid Glass slider to be one of the update's most underrated features. Here's how it works and why it's worth trying.
I’ve tried nearly every iOS 27 feature, and these 3 are why I’m still excited about the update
I've spent a week testing iOS 27, and these are the three features that made the biggest difference to my everyday iPhone experience.
The latest iPhone Ultra leak leaves little to the imagination, includes a much-awaited iOS feature
Jon Prosser's latest iPhone Ultra renders show a 4.5mm foldable with split-screen multitasking, dual cameras, and iOS 27 code backing the design up.
Nimble’s SharePower breaks in half, and it’s the coolest power bank idea I’ve ever seen
Nimble's latest portable charger does something most power banks can't: it splits into two independent batteries. The clever design lets you share power with a friend without giving up your own backup charge.
Everything new coming to Apple Wallet in iOS 27
iOS 27 brings enhanced passes, smarter hotel keys, bill splitting, and more to Apple Wallet this fall.
Everything new coming to CarPlay in iOS 27
iOS 27 brings a Siri AI overhaul, video apps, audio scrubbing, and major reliability fixes to CarPlay this fall.
Apple Intelligence 2.0: What the New AI Features Actually Mean
Apple Intelligence 2.0 is Apple’s attempt to make AI feel native to the iPhone, with Siri as the visible test, Gemini as the quiet twist, and app plumbing underneath.
These 7 hidden iOS 27 features have quietly improved my iPhone experience
The headline iOS 27 features get all the attention, but these seven small changes are the ones quietly making my iPhone better every single day.
Apple has finally put the planned obsolescence rumors to bed
Every iOS update used to come with the same fear: my old iPhone is about to get slower. iOS 27 finally breaks that pattern, and it's a big deal.
Apple made Liquid Glass adjustable, which says plenty about Liquid Glass
Apple added a Liquid Glass slider to iOS 27 and macOS Golden Gate, and the funniest part is how useful it sounds.
I tried to blur a face in iOS 27. My iPhone gave a new one instead.
Apple improved the Clean Up tool in iOS 27, but it broke the hide faces feature in the process, and what it does now is both funny and a little alarming.
iOS 27 hands-on: the iPhone update I have been waiting for
After two days with the iOS 27 beta, I think Apple finally fixed the stuff that made iOS 26 so frustrating. Here's everything that stood out to me.
