The 20 best smartphones in the world

Technology

2. Google Pixel XL

The new Pixels are Google's first smartphones — the company took more control over the hardware than it did with its earlier line of Nexus devices.

What you get is a sleek-looking aluminum phone with a stylish glass panel on the back that cleverly offers grip for your index finger. The Pixel XL's camera holds its own against the iPhone 7 Plus and Samsung Galaxy S7, too, and its HDR mode adjusts your photos to look amazing.

Google's Pixel XL, the larger model with a 5.5-inch screen, shares exactly the same specs as its smaller sibling, the Pixel. Yet, the XL doesn't offer more features that help justify its relatively high pricetag like the iPhone 7 Plus does. It's literally a larger Pixel.

Price: $769

1. Google Pixel

The Pixel smartphones run Google's Pixel launcher, which gives Android a cleaner look and bakes in Google's helpful AI, Assistant.

It's also a superior phone overall to our previous top pick, the iPhone 7 Plus. It has a better screen, it's lighter, and has useful features like fast charging.

The Pixel runs on the powerful and power-efficient Snapdragon 821, 4 GB of RAM, and it has an excellent 12.3-megapixel camera that holds its own against the iPhone 7 Plus and Samsung Galaxy S7.

Price: $649