GoKawiilEvery few years, you may think about upgrading your smartphone. A lot of thought and research goes into your next choice, whether it’s the price, features or brand reputation. Maybe you’re eyeing the latest and greatest, or considering a different phone brand or model altogether. Our readers’ opinions may help you decide.
CNET’s People’s Picks dives into what our readers really think about their tech devices and services, like their internet service provider, TVs and even their mobile carrier.
This round was all about readers’ phone brands, just in time for Apple’s Sept. 9 Surprise and shine event, where we expect new iPhone models to be revealed. We asked about everything from brand loyalty to battery life, durability and even price-to-value. The results came down to four big-name tech brands. While there’s only one overall winner, other brands win in key categories that can make a big difference in your day-to-day tasks if you’re upgrading soon.
Overall winner: Google
J. Hazelwood/CNET
Google is the overall winner for CNET’s People’s Picks for Phones. CNET averaged the scores across three categories to determine the overall satisfaction rating, which includes customer satisfaction, battery longevity and price-to-value.
Google wins with a score of 4.52 out of 5, while Motorola trails closely behind with 4.45.
“It’s no surprise to me that Google and Motorola scored top marks because both sell some of the most affordable phones that people can buy. Motorola’s Moto G series costs hundreds of dollars less than Apple’s cheapest iPhone,” said CNET’s Director of Content, Patrick Holland. “At $500, Google’s Pixel 10A is one of the best values that you can buy today, especially as phone prices spike due to the ongoing RAM shortage caused by AI and data centers. It just goes to show that in 2026, you can spend less than $500 and still have a great phone that lasts you years.”
On the other hand, Samsung and Apple trail behind with scores of 4.19 and 3.87, respectively. Both brands have evolved in the smartphone space with AI-powered features, upgraded cameras, and thinner phone designs, but fell short in this category.
“There are a few factors at play here, most notably that Google and Motorola ship a fraction of the phones that Samsung does — so Pixel and Razr buyers are a more devoted core of customers than the many who buy Galaxy phones,” said CNET Managing Editor of Mobile David Lumb. A Counterpoint Research report on phone shipments in the first quarter of 2026 noted that Google (3% of the US market) and Motorola (10%) combined accounted for half of Samsung’s market share (26%).
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