The Expert Imaging and Sound Association revealed its top tech winners, with Xiaomi 17T Pro claiming smartphone of the year alongside honors for Samsung, Google, and OnePlus.
Rain tapped against glass while reviewers tested hardware in real-world conditions, gathering at least five independent evaluations per device before casting votes. The Expert Imaging and Sound Association gathered its member publications from around the world for these evaluations. The resulting competition showcased a relentless push among manufacturers toward sharper imaging, extended battery endurance, and deeply integrated artificial intelligence. Rather than minor tweaks, this year’s top winners force a complete reassessment of where device makers compromise between raw speed and daily stamina, with hardware providing bright photos.
Xiaomi 17T Pro and Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra Claim Flagship Crowns
The Xiaomi 17T Pro captured the primary smartphone award by pairing a class-leading camera system with a bright display, a high-performance processor, and a battery built for extended use. Judges highlighted its rare ability to deliver both high speed and reliable endurance without forcing users to sacrifice one for the other, proving to be a phone that forces a reevaluation of compromises.
Meanwhile, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra staked its claim as the best overall device through a massive imaging upgrade. Its 200-megapixel camera system features a wider f/1.4 aperture designed to elevate mobile night photography into an entirely new tier. Samsung also introduced a hardware-based privacy screen built directly into the phone—a first for any mobile device. This display instantly darkens when viewed from any angle other than straight-on, and it can activate automatically when users open specific applications.
Powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip, the Galaxy S26 Ultra delivers marked improvements across its neural processing unit, graphics processing unit, and central processing unit. The integrated S Pen remains standard, while a dual telephoto layout provides both 3 times and 5 times optical zoom options. It stands as the best choice for advanced users who need everything. Yet the hardware shift from titanium to an aluminum chassis drew criticism from fans of earlier industrial designs, and device pricing climbs steeply as users add storage.
Foldables, Specialized Cameras, and Value Contenders
Beyond traditional slab phones, manufacturers pushed boundaries in flexible displays and pocket-sized utility. Honor secured the best foldable phone title with the Magic V6, which distinguished itself through a category-leading power reserve. The device pairs strong ingress protection ratings with quality screens, giving users a tablet-comparable screen without sacrificing structural durability or daily runtime.
For mobile photographers seeking straightforward results without major effort, the Google Pixel 10 Pro relies on heavy artificial intelligence processing to make great pictures effortless. Its software processing remains the Android benchmark for point-and-shoot stability to achieve stable photographic results. Furthermore, the Video Boost mode on the Pixel 10 Pro XL model showed the best results in DXOMARK video recording tests and achieved the highest score in their current rating. It is the best choice for photographers who want stable results without thinking about it. Critics and reviewers noted that the battery life does not feature the best endurance in its class, evaluated as mediocre and barely sufficient for the whole day.
Buyers looking for flagship performance without an elite price tag turned toward the OnePlus 15. Running on the identical Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor found in the S26 Ultra, its price makes Samsung and Pixel look overpriced, and many publications named it the best choice for 2026. Furthermore, it ships with double the charging speed of Samsung—a massive real-world advantage for those with no time to wait, serving as the best option for buyers wanting flagship performance without a flagship price. However, OnePlus software update frequency still does not match long-standing Samsung or Google guarantees, which matters if you use the phone for a long time.
Budget Choices and Compact Alternatives
The market also rewarded accessible engineering through models designed for thriftier buyers and design enthusiasts. The Google Pixel 10a debuted as the safest choice within its price bracket, issued at a 499 dollar price tag, carrying the newer Tensor G4 processor and faster 30-watt charging while maintaining full warranty and predictable long-term software updates. Users will not get the most advanced technical specifications, but they get the Pixel camera system and years of operating system updates for significantly less money than any other phone on the list, representing the best choice for those who do not need the newest hardware. The downside is that the camera system received no hardware upgrade compared to the previous generation.
Rounding out the field, the CMF Phone 2 Pro captured attention as the best compact variant, proving that no sub-brand created anything truly special. It features modular accessories and a design that stands out from a multitude of flat phones competing for the same shelf space. At an affordable price, it is an option for those who want individuality alongside technical specifications, making it the best choice for readers who want something unusual without overpaying. The weakness is that the Nothing ecosystem remains niche, and accessory availability can be unstable depending on where you live.
