Your membership has expired

The payment for your account couldn't be processed or you've canceled your account with us.

Re-activate

Most and Least Reliable Phone Brands

If you're looking for a problem-free phone, here's what to consider based on the latest results from Consumer Reports’ annual smartphone survey

When you shop through retailer links on our site, we may earn affiliate commissions. 100% of the fees we collect are used to support our nonprofit mission. Learn more.

Photo illustration of a stack of different cell phones with a thumbs up and thumbs down.
We asked CR members to rate their experiences with their phones. Here's how Apple, Samsung, and others deliver on reliability and owner satisfaction.
Photo Illustration: Lacey Browne/Consumer Reports, Getty Images

There’s a lot to consider when buying a new cell phone. There’s your budget, of course, and whether you prefer an iPhone or an Android phone. The size of the phone, the camera setup, and the device’s battery life all play a role in your decision, too. What’s right for one person might not be ideal for another.

But the one thing everyone wants is a phone that will be problem-free for as long as possible. In fact, CR members are more likely to rank reliability above premium features and even price as the top priority when shopping for a new model.

More on Smartphones

That’s where the data from our annual smartphone survey can be a big help. Every year, we ask our members about their experience with their phones—the problems they’ve encountered, how long the battery lasts on a single charge, and so on.

From 2023 to 2025, CR members shared insights on more than 185,000 smartphones purchased new since 2019. To determine the predicted brand reliability marks in our smartphone ratings, CR analyzed this data using a statistical model to estimate how likely products from a particular smartphone brand are to experience problems by the end of the second year of ownership. Our owner satisfaction ratings are based on the proportion of surveyed CR members who are extremely likely to recommend their smartphone to friends and family members.

Here’s a detailed breakdown of the results.

Become a member to read the full article and get access to digital ratings.

We investigate, research, and test so you can choose with confidence.


Courtney Lindwall

Courtney Lindwall is a writer at Consumer Reports. Since joining CR in 2023, she’s covered the latest on cell phones, smartwatches, and fitness trackers as part of the tech team. Previously, Courtney reported on environmental and climate issues for the Natural Resources Defense Council. She lives in Brooklyn, N.Y.