Take a look and we guarantee you'll find the best smartphone for your needs, beginning with the very best phone currently available...
Is the iPhone X the best phone this year? Yes. But only by a whisker. The Samsung Galaxy S9 is so close (especially if you prefer Android), while Apple’s own iPhone 8 Plus gives you so much of the iPhone X technology without the extra cost. In the end though, it's the ultra-desirability of the iPhone X that wins it.
The first thing that strikes you about the design is, obviously, the 5.8-inch AMOLED screen. It's certainly true that the edge-to-edge screen looks absolutely stunning, both from a design perspective and from a technology viewpoint.
Of course, there's also the top 'notch'. This does intrude on the screen slightly, especially when you want to be fully immersed in something, but call me crazy – I kind of like it. It gives the phone a visual identity.
Aside from the screen you've got Apple's blazing fast A11 Bionic processor, fantastic dual camera with portrait lighting mode, and FaceID (which actually works very well).
It’s the marriage of software and hardware, something that Apple's always been good at, that’s so effective here and that’s especially the case when it comes to Face ID.
- Read: iPhone X review
Of course, we have to mention the price. The iPhone X costs a considerable £999, making it the most expensive iPhone to date.
We'll start by saying this, if you think that's too much money then the iPhone X isn't for you. Is it worth £999? Well, it's complicated. Just like a Louis Vuitton Bag, there are more affordable alternatives that do exactly the same job, but it's all about prestige and branding.
Apple has slowly been morphing into a luxury goods company for a while now, and the iPhone X is another step in that direction. It's essentially a luxury item from a designer brand, so I feel it charging £999 is somehow more justified than Samsung charging £850 for the Note 8.
Basically, it's the refresh the iPhone needed, and Apple has succeeded in creating an incredibly desirable package. It's the best smartphone you can buy.
Today's best Apple iPhone X deals
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The Samsung Galaxy S9 is the best Android smartphone in the world right now, boasting the brilliant Infinity Edge display which occupies 84-percent of the body and cutting-edge guts. Yep, this futuristic smartphone is a looker, and Samsung managed to resist the temptation to add an iPhone X-style notch, which is definitely a good thing. It has its own identity.
The S9 is the complete package, as well as the amazing display and industry-leading specs, this handset also has decent battery life, an excellent camera and amazing performance. With all of that combined, you get not only the best-looking smartphone, but one of the top performing smartphones in the universe. Yes, the universe!
We think the 5.8-inch S9 is perfect, but if you're after an ever larger smartphone, Samsung also offers the Galaxy S9+, which features a massive 6.2-inch display.
Okay, so unfortunately Samsung hasn't released a perfect phone - there are a few small niggles - it's not the most exciting update over the S8 (which can now be purchased relatively cheap) and Bixby is still inferior to Google Assistant. But we guarantee you won't be disappointed if you buy this phone.
Today's best Samsung Galaxy S9 deals
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The Huawei P20 Pro is the latest flagship from the Chinese smartphone giant, and we really, really like it. It's the ideal smartphone if you're looking for a premium alternative to the iPhone X and Samsung Galaxy S9, but it's also got plenty of features which make it great device in its own right.
We love the P20 Pro's Leica-branded triple camera. Yes, you read that right, this camera has three camera sensors, a 40MP RGB, 20MP Monochrome, and 8MP telephoto. The three lenses are can be used to capture some very pleasing images.
The OS is coming on leaps and bounds as well, and the design and feel of this device really is fantastic.
It's a smartphone that really puts a cat among the pigeons. The pigeons in this case being Samsung, Apple, and Google.
- Read: Huawei P20 Pro review
But it's not quite perfect. The UI still lags behind its competitors, and some won't be too fond of the iPhone X-esque design.
Despite its flaws, we think it's a brilliant smartphone, thanks to a neat blend of design, features, and camera. Plus, the battery life is class leading, capable of lasting around two days.
Today's best Huawei P20 Pro deals
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We can't tell you how close it is between the Google Pixel 2 XL, iPhone X, P20 Pro and S9 for the title of 'best smartphone in the world.' All four are great smartphones, but the sleek design, and amazing screen puts the iPhone, Huawei, and Samsung in the lead, just.
The Google Pixel 2 XL is still an amazing smartphone - especially if you prioritise camera quality and want software straight from Google.
- Read: Google Pixel 2 XL review
Whether it's the excellent camera, the metal-and-glass chassis, the oodles of power involved or just the fact that the software and virtual assistant work in perfect harmony with the hardware, Google's got a lot right here and this is a brilliant phone.
2017 was when Google came into its stride with the Pixel sequels. Google now has clear vision for its flagship smartphones. The design is distinctive and has character, and the Pixel 2 XL's edge-to-edge screen makes it the one to go for.
Of course, if you prefer smaller screens, the 5-inch Pixel 2 is also available, which is identical the OG (apart from size and screen).
Today's best Google Pixel 2 XL deals
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The Honor 10 is a fantastic smartphone, partnering a young, hyper-modern, and eye-catching design with good hardware and an impressive suite of features, including some genuinely impressive AI functions.
The fact that this phone costs just £399 is absolutely nuts, too, especially when you take into account its hardware benchmarks that are right up there among those logged by much more expensive handsets.
- Read: Honor 10 Review
The AI camera functionality is also really nicely integrated, and the camera system grants you serious flexibility and scope to take creative shots.
Overall, then, a great new phone from Honor that shows, more than anything, that the Chinese maker is going from strength to strength.
Today's best Honor 10 deals
£399.22
The OnePlus 6 is one of the absolute fastest Android phones on the market. Its combination of the high-end Snapdragon 845 CPU, powerful Adreno 630 GPU, and a whopping 8GB of RAM (that's 4GB more than the Samsung Galaxy S9), means that the OnePlus 6 smokes the opposition in terms of benchmark scores.
The phone's use of Android 8.1 Oreo and OnePlus' own light skin of vanilla, OxygenOS, adds to this rapidity, too, with menu navigation as well as app loading and switching a buttery smooth experience.
- Read: OnePlus 6 review
The phone's 6.28-inch 19:9 AMOLED screen isn't the absolute best on the market, nor is its camera system or battery, however, they are all competitive and help deliver a top all-round mobile package. Plus, the fact the OnePlus 6 retails for quite a lot less than other flagships makes it an even more attractive proposition.
Today's best OnePlus 6 deals
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Sony's latest flagship is simply one of the best Android smartphones on the market in 2018, delivering a fantastic hardware package, slick software, and a selection of standout, world first features.
The foremost among these features is the ability to record in HDR at a 4K resolution, however, that is only closely followed by the XZ2's ability to record super slow-motion footage at 1080p and to vibrate to varying degrees of complexity while playing games or watching media thanks to its Dynamic Vibration System.
- Read: Sony Xperia XZ2 review
The Xperia XZ2 also has a bold new design as well when compared to older Xperias and, while it is still quite bezel heavy, it feels great in the hand, too, with its mirror-gloss finish slipping in and out of the pocket easily.
A technically impressive camera system built around a memory-packed Exmore RS image sensor, Hi-Resolution Audio credentials with DSEE HX technology, and Qi wireless charging functionality complete a quality mobile package.
Today's best Sony Xperia XZ2 deals
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Here we have the iPhone 8 Plus - probably one of the most anticipated smartphones of the year. Some feel its sheer size does make it tricky to hold, but there's no denying Apple's beautiful 5.5-incher is a winner. If you prefer iOS to Android and don't want to splash out on the iPhone X, this should be your first choice.
Apple has chosen to stick with a similar design to the iPhone 7, swapping the out the all-metal case for a glass back and making it heavier (more premium feeling). There is a glorious new Gold colourway available, and to top it off, the glass casing allows Apple to add wireless charging. The S8 and recent S9 design does make the iPhone 8 feel slightly dated now, however.
- Read: iPhone 8 Plus review
It's inside where the iPhone 8 Plus has received the biggest overhaul - now packing Apple's blazing fast A11 Bionic processor. The dual camera has also received a significant upgrade, now a better sensor and smart software powering it. To finish it off, the iPhone 8 Plus comes running iOS 11, Apple's latest and greatest mobile OS.
It is expensive, and may be too large for some, so the standard iPhone 8 with a 4.7-inch display is also worth your consideration.
- Read: iPhone 8 review
Today's best iPhone 8 plus deals
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Taking the quality base design and feature set of the HTC U11+, and then dialling everything up to 11 and coating it with a big dollop of 2018, the HTC U12+ offers one of the most comprehensive and quality Android experiences on the market today.
Flagship internal hardware and a gorgeous 18:9 HDR screen that go toe-to-toe with those from all the other big players, such as the Samsung Galaxy S9 and Sony Xperia XZ2, are partnered with a quality, feature packed dual front and rear camera system, as well as a bunch of unique tech (such as Edge Sense 2) that helps generate the U12+ an identity of its very own.
- Read: HTC U12+ review
Certified IP68 water resistance, dual LTE SIM functionality, and a fast running version of Android 8.1 Oreo complete a very strong all-round package.
LG is really putting out quality Android handsets now and the LG G7 ThinQ is the best so far, delivering a phone packed with a stunningly bright high-resolution 18:9 aspect ratio screen, flagship-level internal hardware (that's a Snapdragon 845 CPU with 4GB of RAM), and a selection of high-level features geared toward performance users.
The LG G7 ThinQ's Super Bright Camera mode, which automatically activates in dark environments, makes low-light photography a breeze, while the camera's Portrait Mode delivers shots with very subtle and user variable bokeh.
- Read: LG G7 ThinQ review
The phone's audio credentials are also top draw. The LG G7 ThinQ comes rocking both DTS:X virtual 3D sound for all content (up to 7.1 channel with earphones) and also a Hi-Fi Quad DAC. In addition, LG's Boombox Speaker delivers remarkably loud playback with decent bass (for a phone), too.
Today's best LG G7 ThinQ deals
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Notice how all of these smartphones have 5+ inch screens? What if you have small hands? You can't reach all four corners of the screen. It's a problem not many of us face, but the truth is -- some people just prefer smaller phones but don't want to sacrifice high-end specs. The iPhone SE is for you.
With a 4-inch screen and guts which match the iPhone 6S, including the 12MP rear camera, 2GB RAM, Apple Pay, Retina display, and Apple A9 chipset, this thing is a little pocket rocket.
- Read: iPhone SE review
There are a few drawbacks - the design isn't beautifully curvaceous like the iPhone 8 (the SE is based on the iPhone 5), the front-facing camera has fewer megapixels, and the Touch ID fingerprint sensor is older and therefore slower. The best thing about it? Despite its range-topping specs, the iPhone SE is also one of the cheapest smartphones Apple has ever released. What's not to love?
Today's best iPhone SE deals
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The Moto Z2 Force is a refreshing phone - it's both designed to be sleek and sophisticated, as well as durable with the ability to survive a beating. That's mainly down to the screen, which features a thick, toughened outer layer which won't break - no matter how hard you try.
The casing is also pretty rugged, with a strong aluminium skeleton, the Moto Z2 Force doesn't look like it belongs in a workman's tool bog. The specs are up there with every other device on this list, and the ecosystem of Moto Mods is impressive to.
- Read: Moto Z2 Force
Android is left close to stock which is also good news, but battery life isn't stellar.
