Our favorite waterproof phones
Apple iPhone X
Cnet rating: 4.5 stars out of 5
The good: A great blend of handheld comfort and a big, gorgeous OLED screen. Rear telephoto camera outshoots the 8 Plus in low light, and the front camera snaps impressive portrait selfies. Face ID generally works fine. The bad: New interface and no home button mean major adjustments, and key features such as the Control Center are harder to reach and use. It’ll take time for most apps to be optimized for the notched screen. The phone is hella expensive. The cost: $1,000
The bottom line: The X is an overdue and winning evolution of the iPhone, but you’ll need to leave your comfort zone to make a jump into the facerecognition future.
Samsung Galaxy Note8
Cnet rating: 4.5 stars out of 5
The good: The Note8 tops Samsung’s already excellent S8 and S8 Plus with dual cameras and a boatload of stylus tricks. It’s the most feature-rich Android phone you can buy. The bad: It has more features than most people will need. Samsung’s portrait mode can be finicky. The poorly placed fingerprint reader repeats the Galaxy S8’s worst design flaw. The cost: $820 to $950 The bottom line: The Note8 retakes the throne as the ultimate Android phone for now, but some intense competition is just over the horizon.
Apple iPhone 8 Plus
Cnet rating: 4.5 stars out of 5
The good: Fantastic dual-lens camera shoots better than ever with improved portrait mode. Adds wireless charging. Lightning-fast speed. Starts at 64GB. The bad: Dated design. Most competing Android phones have even larger screens. The iPhone X could be a more compelling choice. The cost: $799 to $980 The bottom line: The 8 Plus is a superlative phone with a spectacular camera, but the iPhone X has the key features in a smaller, sexier package.
Google Pixel 2
Cnet rating: 4.5 stars out of 5
The good: The Pixel 2 has a superb camera and excellent low-light shooting. It’s water-resistant, and Google Lens calls up a trove of information to help you explore your surroundings. The bad: The battery doesn’t keep pace with the Pixel’s competitors, and its portrait mode isn’t as smooth on dual-camera phones. Its design feels dated, and it doesn’t have wireless charging or a headphone jack. The cost: $650
The bottom line: Buy the Pixel 2 for the best camera on any Android phone and fast Google updates, but skip it if you can’t live without a headphone jack or a standout design.