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Smartphone sales hit record highs in 2026, with more than 1.4 billion devices shipped globally, yet most buyers make their choice based on ads and instinct, not testing data. Price gaps between flagships and mid-range models have narrowed considerably, while the difference in performance — from battery endurance and low-light camera accuracy to real-world durability — has widened.
Consumer Reports tested 67 smartphones on battery life, display quality, camera performance, and durability to find the 10 highest-scoring models of the year.
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