USB Type-C is taking over
In years past, phones charged and transferred files through a Micro-USB port and cable. These days, however, it's more common to find a new standard called USB Type-C.
This port technology is faster, more efficient and -- best of all -- flippable, so you can plug in your cord correctly every time. Click through to see which current phones have USB Type-C.
Editors' note: This post is updated frequently. It was originally published July 31, 2016.
The Galaxy S10E, S10, S10 Plus and the S10 5G
It's been a busy year for Samsung. Earlier, the company took the wraps off four Galaxy S10 phones: the Galaxy S10E, the Galaxy S10, the Galaxy S10 Plus and the Galaxy S10 5G. The new family of handsets not only serve as the successors to last year's popular Galaxy S9 phones, but one of the S10 phones is also compatible with the next generation of mobile network, known as 5G.
Google Pixel 3A XL and Pixel 3A
Google is jumping into the midrange market with the Pixel 3A XL (left) and Pixel 3A. At $479 and $399, respectively, the handsets are essentially reworked Pixel 3 phones. (They're (£469 and £399 in the UK, and AU$799 and AU$649 in Australia.) The devices have the same rear camera and overall look, but there are a few hardware downgrades that contribute to the lower price.
Samsung Galaxy Fold
Many people were eager to learn about the Galaxy Fold when Samsung introduced it at Unpacked in February. When closed, the phone has a secondary 4.6-inch display that serves as its "cover," with all the usual features you'd expect on a phone. When you're ready for something bigger, the Fold opens up like a book to a 7.3-inch tablet.
The Motorola Moto G7, G7 Power and G7 Play
Motorola's budget Moto G7 line -- the Moto G7, Moto G7 Power and Moto G7 Play -- will sell in the US, run on Android Pie and sport headphone jacks. The Moto G7 is our favorite budget phone of the year so far; it has a slick design, decent dual rear cameras and a solid battery life.
OnePlus 7 Pro
Despite its heavy design, lack of water resistance and wireless charging, the OnePlus 7 Pro is a great value. The phone is fast, has a neat pop-up camera and its triple rear cameras take fantastic pictures -- all at $80 less than its closest Samsung and iPhone rivals.
LG G8 ThinQ
The LG G8 ThinQ has a bright, sharp screen, a second wide-angle rear camera and a fast processor. It's also water-resistant and has a headphone jack -- a rarity among premium phones.
Huawei P30 and P30 Pro
The Huawei P30 and P30 Pro are camera whizzes, and both have stunning designs. The P30 has a great battery life, while the P30 Pro's four-camera setup takes fantastic photos. But finding one to buy in the US won't be easy; for more information here's how to buy the P30 phones in the states.
Huawei Mate X
Jumping on the trends of foldable phones and 5G, Huawei's new phone has both. The Mate X has a 6.6-inch display when folded closed and an 8-inch OLED screen when you flip it open. And it features 5G connectivity that's said to be four times faster than 4G, a 4,500-mAh battery and three rear cameras.
LG V50 ThinQ 5G
The LG V50 ThinQ 5G will be available to Sprint users on May 31 for $1,152, but it'll also be made available on Verizon's 5G Ultra Wideband network, T-Mobile and AT&T later in the year. The phone features a 6.4-inch OLED display, three rear cameras that include a wide-angle and telephoto lens, the Snapdragon 855 chipset and two front-facing cameras. It can also attach to a Dual Screen accessory that increases the phone's display size.
Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9 Plus
The 5.8-inch Galaxy S9 (left) has a powerful Snapdragon 845 chipset, the Android Oreo operating system and a fix to the Galaxy line's biggest design misstep -- all in a body that looks strikingly similar to 2017's model. The larger Galaxy S9 Plus also features dual rear cameras and a 6.2-inch display.
Samsung Galaxy Note 9
The ultrapricey Note 9 was one of 2018's best phones. It was big and beautiful, and had top-tier specs, including a massive battery and internal storage that started at 128GB. The S Pen also doubled as a wireless remote for taking long-distance selfies. Its successor, the Note 10, is expected later this year.
OnePlus 6T
Though it doesn't have a headphone jack or a water-resistant design, the OnePlus 6T offers top-notch hardware, including a lightning-speed processor and an excellent camera, for hundreds of dollars less than its competitors. For US customers, it works on Verizon's network.
Razer Phone 2
Though its battery life is unimpressive, the Razer Phone 2 adds IP67 water resistance, a brighter 120Hz screen and wireless charging. That's on top of its great gaming performance and amazing built-in speakers. For more info, check out CNET's best gaming phones comparison.
LG G7 ThinQ
The waterproof G7 ThinQ from 2018 had an AI camera that gave your photos a boost before you snapped them. The phone also had a secondary wide-angle rear camera and a headphone jack.
LG V40 ThinQ
The V40's five cameras give you a variety of photography options. Plus, it has a 6.4-inch screen but is still comfortable to hold. It's water-resistant, has expandable memory and a headphone jack.
Oppo Find X
The Find X has a supercool pop-up camera, a beautiful design and long battery life with fast charging. It also has top-of-the-line features such as 3D face scanning for unlocking.
Red Hydrogen One
The Red Hydrogen One is an exciting, eccentric phone aimed at creatives and is built like a high-end camera. But underwhelming video quality and rough software already have us pining for the sequel.
Huawei Mate 20 Pro
Though you can't buy it in the US, the Mate 20 Pro's impressive list of features (like an in-screen fingerprint reader and an eye-catching design) put it unquestionably among the top phones of 2018.
Motorola Moto G6
The Moto G6 has a near-stock version of Android Oreo, good dual-rear cameras, fast charging and a sleek design. And it's amazingly affordable.
Motorola Moto Z3 Play
The Moto Z3 Play comes with an extra battery pack that gives it two-day battery life. Its take on Android 8.0 Oreo is a pleasure to use, and the fingerprint sensor on the phone's right side is easy to reach.
HTC U12 Plus
With its squeezable sides that can launch any app, the U12 Plus is one of the most unusual phones you can buy. Plus, it has a fast processor and good cameras, and it's water-resistant.
The Essential Phone
Back in 2018, the Essential Phone was one of the fastest phones we tested and it felt brilliant in the hand. Ultimately it flopped, and Essential not only is scrapping a sequel but is considering selling the company altogether.
Nokia 8 Sirocco
Despite its high cost, Nokia's Sirocco phone is a treat for the eyes. The 5.5-inch display stretches to all sides of the phone, curving at the edges of a stainless steel frame. The Sirocco looks and feels like the premium device the Nokia 8 should've been all along.
Sony Xperia XZ2 and XZ2 Compact
The Xperia XZ2 and XZ2 Compact can shoot HDR photos with 4K resolution and record superslow-motion video at 1,080-pixel resolution. For the most part, the phones share similar specs, but the XZ2 Compact (left) is smaller, with a 5-inch display, while the XZ2 has a 5.7-inch screen.
BlackBerry Key2
If you rely on an older BlackBerry phone, the Key2 is a worthy upgrade. Its camera takes daytime photos that are crisp and bright, and portrait mode works well. Keyboard shortcuts that open other apps are fantastic, as is a programmable convenience key. Battery life is also excellent.
Xiaomi Mi 8
The Mi 8 follows 2017's Mi 6, skipping the 7 to mark the company's eighth year. While it does look similar to the iPhone, the Mi 8's 6.21-inch AMOLED display doesn't quite stretch all the way to the bottom like the X's does. On the front is a 20-megapixel camera using "pixel-binning" technology to combine four pixels into a larger one for better low-light selfies.