Best phones in Australia 2017: the 10 top smartphones we've tested

Update: Some huge changes have been made to our list of the Best phones in Australia 2017, with the addition of the iPhone X, Huawei Mate 10 Pro, Google Pixel 2 and Google Pixel 2 XL. Read on to find out where each new phone placed on our heavily-revised list!

If you're interested in Apple's flagship handset, then perhaps you'd be more interested in our best iPhone list.
Alternatively, if you prefer Google's OS, then our best Android phone roundup should be right up your alley.

2017 has proven to be a stellar year for smartphones, and we can look forward to 2018 being even better. The recent launches of the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus, the Samsung Galaxy Note 8 and Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus this year mean that the humble smartphone is destined to become faster, more powerful and even more versatile than ever before.

Here at TechRadar, we check out every phone under the sun, putting the ones that matter through our vigorous testing process to create our in-depth mobile phone reviews.

However, with so many to choose from, we've spent hours whittling them down to a top ten, taking into account power, specs, design and value for money. And we'll always point you in the direction of the latest handsets – after all, nobody wants to be carting around a phone that doesn't get any updates in a year's time, right?

So whether it's one of the many slick Android handsets, the latest iPhone or one from a range of other cool manufacturers, we've extensively tested them all so you don't have to!

Here are our rankings for the best smartphones around, currently available in Australia.

iPhone SE

10. Apple iPhone SE

A simply brilliant palm-friendly phone

The iPhone SE sports a tired design, has a screen that's several years old and a display size which isn't really big enough for today's apps and movies on the move.

That said, it's one of very few high-end smartphones you can get which you can use one-handed without issue. It won't be for everyone, but for those who dislike the supersized phones of today the iPhone SE is a top performer on a miniature scale.

Remember the SE has the same power, same camera and same operating system as the top of the range iPhone 6S, but in a size you can easily pocket and at a price which isn't going to break the bank.

Sure Sony has the Z5 Compact, but that still has a large-ish 4.6-inch display - the SE is a rare breed of small form and big power.

Read the full review: Apple iPhone SE
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9. Sony Xperia XZ Premium

A screen as good as the one in your living room (maybe even better).

Like the Sony Xperia Z5 Premium before it, Sony's Xperia XZ Premium boasts an incredible 4K display, only this time it's even better than before thanks to the inclusion of HDR support. This gives the display a much wider colour gamut, allowing for greater colour detail and more vibrant and lifelike visuals overall.

Screen aside, the phone itself is quite impressive in terms of specs, with 4GB of RAM, a Snapdragon 835 processor, 64 GB of storage (microSD up to 256GB), a 3,230 mAh battery, a water resistant build and it's also got Sony's unique side-mounted fingerprint scanner.

When it comes to raw power, the XZ premium maybe not be a class-leading device. That said, its incredible 4K screen (which boasts a whopping pixel density of 807ppi) is the gold-standard for handset displays – especially when used in conjunction with XZ Premium's impressive 19MP primary camera.

Photography is also a major selling point for the XZ Premium, with its dedicated shutter button (which you can half-press to initiate laser autofocus) and its ability to record 720p video footage at a ridiculously slow 960fps as well as 4K footage at 30fps.

Admittedly, we're not fans of its huge top and bottom bezels – Sony doesn't really make meaningful use of that space (there are some front-facing speakers tucked in there), opting to use on-screen buttons instead of touch capacitive ones. And, since its fingerprint scanner is side-mounted, that just leaves a bunch of empty space at the bottom of the handset.

Still, the Sony Xperia XZ is a seriously slick phone with a jaw-dropping screen (backed by the same Triluminos display technology that powers Sony's 4K TVs). One look at this display and you may just be in love.

Read the full review: Sony Xperia XZ Premium
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8. Huawei Mate 10 Pro

Huawei's latest flagship delivers the goods

Last year's Huawei Mate 9 wowed a lot of people by being an incredibly impressive handset at an affordable price point. Thankfully, the Chinese phone maker has delivered an impressively premium follow up in the Mate 10 Pro.

The first thing you'll notice about Huawei's new flagship is its stunning 18:9 display. While the regular Mate 10 offers a higher native resolution than the Mate 10 Pro, with Mate 10 Pro is saddled with a maximum resolution that’s only slighter higher than FHD (1080 x 2160), its AMOLED display makes up for it with richer colours, deeper blacks and a brighter picture overall.

Thanks to its ongoing partnership with Leica, Huawei has once again a delivered class-leading dual camera setup for the Mate 10 Pro – even the most novice photographer can achieve professional-looking results. Combining a 12MP colour (RGB) sensor with a 20MP monochrome sensor allows users to take incredible depth-of-field shots and stark black and white photos of incredible detail.

One of the camera’s most impressive features is how it uses the dedicated NPU (neural processing unit) embedded on Huawei’s new Kirin 970 processor to automatically adjust your camera settings based on what you’re shooting – it can even tell the difference between cats and dogs!

Huawei handsets are known for their large and long-lasting batteries, and the Mate 10 Pro continues to uphold this reputation. Its huge 4,000mAh battery kept it going for around two days of regular use, which is something that most other phones can only dream of.

While we aren't crazy about some of Huawei's choices on the Mate 10 Pro (the microSD slot has been ditched, same with the headphone jack), we love its astonishing photographical prowess and beautiful new design.

Read the full review: Huawei Mate 10 Pro
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7. Google Pixel 2

Improves on the original Pixel in (almost) every way

Boasting arguably the best camera on any smartphone released in 2017, the Google Pixel 2 improves upon the original Pixel in a number of ways.

Though its bezel-heavy design is a little outdated, given that almost all of the other Android flagships (including the Pixel 2 XL) have embraced the bezel-free craze, the Pixel 2 still feels a lot slicker in terms of design than its predecessor.

Its camera, despite being a single-lens setup, has been rated as the best on any smartphone by the renowned camera benchmarking team at DxOMark, and has proven to be exceptional in all of our tests.

We do wish Google had made a few more advancements with this year's Pixel – there's still microSD slot and the display is only 1080p), but we're happy to say that the Pixel 2 is now IP67 certified for water and dust resistance.

If you can look past its large bezels, lack of headphone jack and expandable memory, there's plenty to love about the Google Pixel 2.

Read the full review: Google Pixel 2
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6. Google Pixel 2 XL

A refined design and a stunning camera make the 2 XL a winner

Thanks to a beautiful new design that incorporates an 18:5 QHD+ display and smaller bezels, and an even better camera that achieves dual camera quality from a single lens, the Pixel 2 XL is a real step forward for Google's smartphone brand.

Sure, there are some downsides: the headphone jack is gone and there's still no microSD card slot, but we can now add an IP67 water and dust certification to its list of stellar features.

Once again, fans of the 'pure Android' experience will be in heaven here, as Google's OS provides the Pixel 2 XL with slick performance and a clutter-free interface.

There are so many handsets with dual camera setups these days, and yet the Pixel 2 XL's single-lens setup manages to pip almost all of them. A brilliant portrait mode and an incredibly fast capture speed are just two of the features you can look forward to using on the Pixel 2 XL.

If you're looking for a handset that's big, offers terrific performance and will take astonishing pictures, then the Google Pixel 2 XL is the one for you.

Read the full review: Google Pixel 2 XL See the best Google Pixel 2 XL telco plans See the best Google Pixel 2 XL outright deals

iPhone 7 Plus

5. Apple iPhone 8 Plus

Undoubtedly the best iPhone currently available

The iPhone 8 Plus is a great phone – there’s no doubt about that. It’s a better phone that anything Apple has produced before, and it’s, well, just done in a very Apple way.

There are some strong upgrades: the camera has been enhanced, the internal workings are now among the most powerful in the industry, and little tweaks throughout smooth off rough edges in a way that makes us feel Sir Jony Ive climbed inside his computer and lathed them off himself.

Whether that’s a subtle haptic double buzz when pressing the shutter on the camera, or being able to ‘feel’ the numbers clicking when selecting the time on the alarm, it’s those little delights that… delight.

Those previously mentioned Portrait Lighting effects need some real power, and that’s where the A11 chip comes in. Any app that uses high levels of photo manipulation worked pretty flawlessly in our tests, with no lag when working with multiple image layers.

It’s hard to convey the usefulness of all this power for the average user, one who might not use such features regularly – but it’ll keep your iPhone singing more sweetly for the next two or three years compared to the previous generations.

The iPhone 8 Plus is a phone for the Apple fan who wants the longest battery life possible, and the most screen to look at, without having to pay the premium the iPhone X costs.

Read the full review: Apple iPhone 8 Plus
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Samsung Galaxy S7

4. Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus

One of the best smartphones in the world - it's a work of art

The Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus fits a monstrous 6.2-inch curved display into an acceptably large body that doesn’t feel too different from its predecessor, the Galaxy S7 Edge.

That’s not all that’s impressive. It features the best phone display, chipset and camera of any phone to date, plus it’s still water- and dust-resistant and it features 64GB of internal storage plus a microSD card slot for expandable storage.

The battery life is very good, it can power the next generation of mobile VR games and it has software that rivals stock Android.

Aside from Bixby and some slightly clunky biometrics, the Galaxy S8 Plus is the perfect phone for anyone looking to maximism smartphone screen real estate.

Read the full review: Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus
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3. Samsung Galaxy Note 8

The biggest and best phone around, but it'll cost you

Moving past Samsung's Note-related struggles from last year, the company has, against all odds, returned with what is perhaps the best phablet of all time – the Samsung Galaxy Note 8. The handset acts as demonstration of Samsung’s eagerness to move forward, seeking to put that previous mishap well in the past, while also serving as a reminder of how prestigious the Note line was, is, and (the company hopes) always will be.

Adopting a design that’s based heavily on the Galaxy S8 Plus from earlier this year, the Galaxy Note 8 differentiates itself by being slightly bigger and sporting the signature squarish look that has been synonymous with the line since its inception. Immediately, this gives the monolithic Note 8 a more professional look and feel, one that’s punctuated by the device’s retractable S Pen – one look and it’s clear that the Note 8 is ready to take care of business.

Samsung's class-leading Infinity Display is better than ever here, with the Note 8's 6.3-inch display providing absolutely jaw-dropping images from every angle. This is one screen that's bound to turn a few heads.

The Galaxy Note 8 is also the most powerful phone that the company has ever produced, with 6GB of RAM giving it the processing edge over its S8 range. It's also the company's first flagship with a dual camera setup, allowing users to take stunning depth-of-field and portrait shots and take advantage of 2x optical zoom functionality.

If there's a downside to the Note 8, it's that Samsung has reduced the size of its battery. Given last year's battery issues, this is completely understandable, though at 3,300mAh, it’s 200mAh smaller than the battery featured in the S8 Plus, despite being a larger phone with an extra 2GB of RAM to work with.

And at $1,499, it's also one of the more expensive handsets on the market. So if you can live without the included S Pen functionality, the cheaper and similarly specced Galaxy S8 Plus might be a better option for you. However, if you're set on owning the most premium phablet currently available, look no further than the Galaxy Note 8.

Read the full review: Samsung Galaxy Note 8
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2. Apple iPhone X

Apple's most revolutionary iPhone to date

Though the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus are undoubtedly great handsets, the real update that Apple phone fans had been waiting years for finally arrived with the iPhone X, delivering the first real evolution of the world's most famous smartphone since the iPhone 6 released in 2014.

Thanks to its mind-blowing bezel-free design, the iPhone X is an absolutely stunning phone to behold. The Cupertino company did away with its home button entirely, pushing gesture-based control into the spotlight.

Once you've finished marvelling at its futuristic design, you may also notice that Apple has also upped its display game with a seriously gorgeous 5.8-inch OLED screen that delivers infinite contrast and vibrant colours.

The decision to ditch the fingerprint scanner also led to one of the boldest new features in the iPhone range: Face ID. Much more advanced than the facial recognition found in other smartphones, the iPhone X creates a three-dimensional scan of your face that evolves along with you.

Big improvements have also been made to the iPhone's front-facing camera, with new TrueDepth technology allowing for some truly dynamic selfies. On the rear, its camera is quite similar to the iPhone 8, with some minor differences, including an aperture of f/2.4 and a wide-angle lens has optical image stabilisation.

Quite frankly, the iPhone X is as close to perfection as Apple has ever gotten with an iPhone, and if it weren't for its astronomical price point, it would have found itself in the top spot on this list.

Read the full review: iPhone X
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1. Samsung Galaxy S8

A turning point in smartphone design, the Galaxy S8 is truly exceptional

The Samsung Galaxy S8 is the best phone in the world for a few reasons, but none more so than the display: it makes every other handset on the market look positively antiquated. Heck, it’s probably one of the best phones ever made, and will be pointed to in future retrospectives as a real turning point in smartphone design.

The camera is still excellent, the screen quality the best that can be found right now and it's smashed through all our benchmarking tests. But back to how Samsung has designed the Galaxy S8… it's just pure premium from start to finish.

The way the front and back of the phone roll into the metal rim that sits around the outside of the phone is simply exquisite, and there's a real pleasure to be had when just rolling this phone around and around in your palm.

While it costs a lot to own, there are a lot of premium reasons for the premium price, and with the screen Samsung has managed to find some impressive innovation at a time when there's very little to be found in smartphones.

The Samsung Galaxy S8 is designed for those who just want a great phone and aren’t bothered about the cost. It’s a premium handset in every sense of the word – you’re paying more to get something really lovely.

Read the full review: Samsung Galaxy S8
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We're all about reviewing and rating all the phones here at techradar. There's nothing we like more than brewing a pot of tea and deciding where each new phone should sit in the list.

However, sometimes they don't make it into the top 10 - sad, we know, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't have a quick look to see if they fit your needs. After all, there are very few bad phones these days...

Galaxy S6

Samsung Galaxy S7

A true return to form from the Korean manufacturer

The Galaxy S7 may have just been dethroned by the Galaxy S8, but don't count this old boy out of the race yet.

The Samsung Galaxy S7 is a stellar phone. It's a handset that packs great battery smarts, excellent camera abilities and loads of raw power into an increasingly affordable package.

Even though Samsung has replaced the Galaxy S7 with the new Galaxy S8, it's still worth taking a look at the 2016 flagship Samsung phone for your next big purchase. The price has begun to drop quite impressively, and the Galaxy S8 lacks a killer feature that makes it a must-have over the Galaxy S7.

Read the full review: Samsung Galaxy S7 review
See the best Samsung Galaxy S7 telco plans
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Samsung Galaxy Note 5

Though we'd love to include the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 on this list, a series of unfortunate burning issues has caused Samsung to officially recall the device for the time being. On that note (hehe), we're going to hold off on including it here until it's back on store shelves and the recall has finished.

With that said, people after a phablet may want to consider last year's model, the Samsung Galaxy Note 5, as it has one of the best-looking screens next to the S7 Edge.

It ditches the plastic casing and back everyone disliked about Samsung phones, but it did make a few key sacrifices along the way. The battery is no longer swappable, and the microSD card slot is missing.

While some long-time fans are vocal about these two missing features, the Galaxy Note 5 still has one of the best splitscreen modes and best cameras. It matches the quality of the Samsung Galaxy S6.

The Samsung Galaxy Note 5 is a large phone that's either a game changer or deal breaker for longtime fans of the Android phablet, now that it has a premium look and feel.

HTC One M9

A stunning phone, even if it does feel like a slight step backwards

For two long years, the HTC One and its follow up, the One (M8) topped the techradar charts for the best phone money could buy. But while the most recent version has been overtaken by its competitors, it's still one of the best devices on the market.

With the same exceptional build quality that made previous One handsets stand apart from the crowd, and the incredible Boomsound front-facing speakers, there's plenty to love about this phone.

The 20.7MP camera may be better specced than previous iterations, but it still falls short against some of the higher-placed competitors here.

The price at launch was a bit too high for what you actually got, but given we're soon to meet the HTC One M10, you can grab the M9 at a pretty good price. For the quality of the hardware and software, it's definitely worth checking out.

Huawei Mate 8

Great battery life but a middling interface

This is obviously more phablet than phone, but it's an intriguing one given it's lower on the price scale. There's a great, speedy fingerprint sensor on the rear, the display is still stunning despite not being the sharpest around and the battery life is much stronger than most on show here.

However, Huawei's Emotion UI is still a bit hard to master, trying to ape the best bits of both Android and iOS but not really managing either. The speaker grille doesn't look amazing, and we wish the fast charging cable came along at purchase.

Huawei Mate 8 review

OnePlus 3

OnePlus finally has a genuine flagship killer

Addressing a number of issues fans had with the OnePlus 2, it seems the third time's the charm for the Chinese startup, as the OnePlus 3 manages to provide a premium smartphone experience without breaking the budget.

Its impressive Snapdragon 820 processor and huge 6GB of RAM ensure that the OnePlus 3 is future-proofed for the next few years, at least.

There are a few shortcomings, but some compromises are essential in a $550 smartphone with this level of spec, and on the whole the ones made here don't really limit the OnePlus 3 in any meaningful way.

OnePlus 3 review

Samsung Galaxy s5

Samsung Galaxy S5

Two years old, but still very capable

If Samsung's latest duo of flagship devices (the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge) are too rich for your wallet then you can always consider last year's Galaxy S5.

Sure it doesn't have the same premium design as the current generation, but the plastic body means it's dust and water resistant as well as giving you a removable battery and microSD slot - all things not available on the S6 range.

The drop in price also makes the Galaxy S5 more attractive and it's stuffed full of tech and sports a fantastic screen to ensure you still have an enjoyable mobile experience.

Samsung Galaxy S5 review

iPhone 6

Apple iPhone 6S

Same frame but with a brilliant new touchscreen

Apple's iPhone 6S pitch has been 'the only thing that's changed is everything', highlighting that it knows this is phone looks an awful lot like 2014's model.

It makes sense that Apple would try its hardest to show that, despite the handset looking identical to the iPhone 6, there have been loads of changes under the hood that make this an attractive phone in its own right.

If you're desperate to get a new iPhone, but don't need or want the forever change (headphone jack-less) iPhone 7, I'd recommend the iPhone 6S wholeheartedly, especially if you're jumping from a 5S. It's got a great interface that's only going to get better, and the overall package is still excellent.

iPhone 6S review

Motorola Moto Z

Moto Z takes the modular accessory idea we liked so much about the LG G5 and actually makes it work with better add-ons and an easier-to-use snap-on design.

It's an Android phone that performs well right now and the potential behind its future accessories hold a lot of promise down the road. Usually when we talk about mid-cycle upgrades, we're strictly talking about new software. Moto Z could take on new form at any time.

It may be the world's thinnest phone, but that comes at a cost with a reduction in battery size and the loss of the headphone jack - potential issues for some users. If you can overlook these shortcomings though you'll have a truly innovative device in your hands.Read the full review: