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TechRadar Readers' Choice Awards 2026: iPhone 18 Pro, Apple and Samsung foldables lead reader-voted winners

TechRadar readers chose iPhone 18 Pro as Phone of the Year and Apple as Phone Brand of the Year; Samsung foldables also won.

AI News Feed · 2026-10-27 03:41

The awards arrived in a year TechRadar described as excellent for technology releases, spanning new TV panel developments, drones, spatial audio speakers and AI-connected screenless fitness wearables, but also difficult because of a component crisis and rising prices across nearly all products. TechRadar said it asked its community of technology lovers which companies navigated those challenges best.

TechRadar reported that the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max received five stars in its review, a rating it rarely gives phones. It cited the iPhone 18 Pro's camera system, including a variable aperture and pro controls, an exceptionally fast chipset, great battery life, Burgundy and Glacier colors, and a superb screen and software. The publication said the phone excels in just about every area.

Apple also won Phone Brand of the Year. TechRadar said Apple may not release as many models as some brands, but it has a phone for almost everyone, whether buyers want a high-end flagship, a top-tier gaming phone, a DSLR alternative, something more affordable or, this year, a foldable phone. It noted that the Duo was released too late to be eligible for the awards. TechRadar said all of Apple's handsets excel and come with genuine upgrades compared with last year's models.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 won Phones Innovation of the Year. TechRadar said it was the first passport-shaped foldable to arrive in Western markets this year. The form factor makes it more pocketable than a book-style foldable while still providing a large screen when unfolded, and the smaller cover screen suits one-handed use, TechRadar said. It added that the phone pairs flagship performance and high-quality displays with the new design.

The iPhone 17e was voted Best Value Phone. TechRadar said its lower price makes it highly affordable by iPhone standards and that it comes with double the storage of the iPhone 16e without increasing the starting price. It also cited MagSafe and an A19 chipset, and noted that iPhones tend to receive updates for many years and hold their value well.

The iPhone 17 won Best Mid-Range Phone. TechRadar said there is no base iPhone 18 yet and that the iPhone 17 remains strong in 2026, with its A19 chipset, always-on display with ProMotion and improved cameras. The publication noted that the iPhone 17's price has not dropped since launch and has actually risen because of the ongoing RAM crisis, but said buyers still get a lot for their money compared with many other mid-range phones.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra was named Best Folding Phone. TechRadar said that while the form factor is not new, this is Samsung's most polished, premium and feature-packed foldable yet, enough to earn the Ultra name. It said the foldable screen is essentially flat for the first time, with a near-invisible crease, and that the phone has a bigger battery, more power and improved cameras than its predecessor while being slimmer.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8 won Best Flip Phone. TechRadar said Samsung remains the king of foldables in readers' eyes. It said the Z Flip 8 had little competition outside the Motorola Razr line but still represented a major upgrade, citing new Horizontal Lock and Fan Cam features.