Every year, the debate over which flagship phone is the best revolves around the same questions: which has the best camera, which lasts the longest, and which actually gives you a reason to upgrade?
In 2026, those questions remain, but there's a new twist: memory prices have surged, pushing smartphone prices higher.
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Xiaomi has cited higher component costs for the 17 Ultra's price, while Samsung has reportedly faced increased RAM costs.
Despite these pressures, the top-end hardware is still relatively well-priced, offering the best of what manufacturers can deliver.
If you're ready to spend flagship money now, here are the best flagship phones you can buy today.
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra: The Safe Yet Powerful Choice
Samsung is known for playing it safe with its flagships, and the Galaxy S26 Ultra is no exception.
It follows the familiar Galaxy Ultra formula but adds some new features.
Starting at $1,299.99, it boasts a 6.9-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with a 120Hz refresh rate and Gorilla Armor 2 protection.
The standout addition is Samsung's Privacy Display, which changes pixel behavior to make the screen harder to see from the side while remaining clear when viewed straight on.
You can even hide parts of the screen, like notifications.
Under the hood, it packs a Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip made specifically for Galaxy phones.
Samsung has also finally increased wired charging to 60W, a welcome upgrade from the previous 45W.
However, the battery remains at 5,000mAh, which lags behind some Chinese rivals that now offer 6,000mAh or larger.
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Still, the S26 Ultra is hard to fault as an overall package.
It includes a 200MP main camera, multiple zoom options, the S Pen, Samsung DeX, a polished Android experience, and years of software support.
It may not be the most exciting in every category, but it does almost everything well, making it an easy recommendation.
Oppo Find X9 Ultra: A Camera Powerhouse with Global Ambitions
Oppo has been collaborating with Hasselblad for a while, but the Find X9 Ultra feels like the partnership's full realization.
