Spring is in the air, and along with warmer temperatures and brighter evenings, the season has brought with it an array of excellent new phones. We tested nine of them, and if you scroll down, you'll be treated to a whistle-stop tour of exactly what we thought of each one.
Of those nine, there were two that scored a near-perfect 4.5 stars out of 5 in our tests. The Xiaomi 17 Ultra (not available in the US) is packed with power, boasts a stunning display, and charges super-speedily, while the Oppo Find X9 Ultra offers excellent software, superb accessories, and a big battery. However, the real standout feature in both cases was the photography setup, with these phones leveraging the expertise of camera gods Leica and Hasselblad, respectively.
Both of those models are pricey, flagship propositions. If your budget is a little more modest, fear not — we also reviewed a couple of stellar mid-range phones. The Poco X8 Pro Max delivers everything you'd want from an affordable phone, and the Samsung Galaxy A57 is similarly competent and looks great, too. Read on for your guide to which phones to buy (and which to avoid) in May.
Click 'View details' for a summary of what we thought of each phone, plus a link to the full review.
Fantastic phones for May
A powerful, fast-charging uber-flagship with a Leica-tuned camera system that's hard to beat. The phone's main 1-inch sensor, with its new LOFIC HDR tech, impresses, as does the mechanical zoom within the huge 200MP telephoto sensor.
Pros
- Refined design
- Stunning display
- Enduring performance
- Top-tier photography experience
Cons
- Video capabilities take a back seat
- Battery longevity could be better
- Software support could last longer
Our reviewer's new favorite Android phone, with the best cameras he's ever tested, and impressive software, performance and battery life. The trade-off is that the Oppo Find X9 Ultra phone is large, heavy, and expensive.
Pros
- Probably the best cameras on any phone
- Great performance and software
- Big battery and fast charging
- Amazing accessories
Cons
- Smaller battery than the X9 Pro
- Teleconverter doesn't shoot RAW
- It's pricey
An incredibly long-lasting Android phone that won’t break the bank. The Poco X8 Pro Max is wonderful as an affordable gaming mobile or business workhorse, with a solid processor and quick charging.
Pros
- Incredible battery life
- Super-fast charging
- Solid for gaming
Cons
- Ring lights have limited use
- It’s no camera phone
- Bloatware-infested OS
The S26 Plus has all the bells and whistles of its predecessor, with some extra performance thrown in. But it’s more expensive, and we didn’t even get new cameras out of it. It's still a great smartphone, but we should have had more.
Pros
- Sleek design
- Gorgeous display
- Excellent performance
Cons
- Price hike
- Cameras aren't as up to date as competitors'
An excellent flagship with an attractive overall design, incredible battery life, and top-of-the-line specs. Throw in the strong camera performance and you have a great all-round smartphone package.
Pros
- Pretty color options and beautiful overall design
- Incredible battery life
- Excellent cameras
- Sleek, easy-to-use software
- Long-term software support
Cons
- The new button is rather pointless
- Underwhelming AI features
- European buyers get a slightly smaller battery
A classier and more composed alternative to the usual flagship brigade — although not quite the out-and-out bargain that previous phones in the series were. Honor could do with losing its iPhone and AI obsessions, but there’s no denying the quality of its execution here.
Pros
- Robust, classy (if unoriginal) design
- Strong stamina
- Solid six years of software support
Cons
- Way too in thrall to the iPhone
- Far more expensive than previous models
- Camera can be a little inconsistent
The A57 has a good-looking display, a relatively slender body, and software that's clean and easy to use, plus cameras and processor that are both fine for everyday use. Pricing isn't very competitive, however, so keep an eye out for a discount.
Pros
- Svelte form
- Easy-to-use software
- Good-looking screen
Cons
- Price hike from A56
- Middling performance
- Cameras don’t cut it
One of the best compact flagship phones around, with a bigger battery, faster charging, and better camera specs than its mainstream rivals. It's not a massive upgrade over the Xiaomi 15, but it offers enough to remain competitive.
Pros
- Pocketable size
- Very powerful
- Great cameras
- Excellent battery life
Cons
- Very similar to the previous gen
- No charger in the box
- On the pricey side
Samsung's first 'affordable' foldable, but it misses the mark with a too-high price tag for what it offers. It's got a pair of excellent displays, but the cameras and battery life are both average, and parts of the software experience are frustrating.
Pros
- It's the most affordable Samsung foldable
- Excellent displays
- Good cameras for the category
Cons
- Hampered software experience
- Battery life is just okay
- Too expensive for what it is
