The Importance of Choosing the Right Phone

Without a doubt, the most important gadget in your life is your phone. It's everything: communication, information, entertainment, gaming, navigation. In fact, it's hard to think about life without a phone at this point, so picking the right phone is all that much more important because this is the thing you're going to be looking at the most over the next one, two, maybe even three years.

Even though phones have been around for over a decade, there still isn't a perfect smartphone. There isn't even a phone that I could say will be perfect for everyone's needs. There will always be something about whatever phone you buy that annoys you, or doesn't work out, or you don't like. But despite this, there is a recommendation I can make for most people who want a good phone with a great camera, great display, great performance, easy and simple to use software, and a great support structure.

If that doesn't work for you, you've got a bunch of alternatives to talk about too. So let's roll those graphics. The best phone for most people looking to buy something that will still be modern and fresh a couple of years from now is Apple's iPhone X. This device has a great display, great camera, wicked fast performance, a great support structure from Apple, and forward-looking features and design that won't feel stale next year.

Now the iPhone X is not the best phone in a bunch of specific categories, and it's definitely not perfect. It has an all-glass design that will definitely break when you drop it. Its Face ID Log In System is not as fast or convenient as a fingerprint scanner, and it doesn't have a headphone jack, which is still a pain in the ass to live with. And, oh yeah, it starts at a thousand freaking bucks, which basically means it's going to be the most expensive phone you've ever purchased.

You could soften the blow of that price if you buy the phone on a payment plan from Apple or your carrier, but that doesn't change the fact that the iPhone X is really pricey. But the price is worth it because you get a big edge-to-edge display that still fits in one hand, it has a gesture control system that's by far the most fun way to navigate a smartphone, and it has fast performance with a reliable battery life.

Overall, the iPhone X has the best complete package for most people. So what about the iPhone 8 or iPhone Plus? If you must have an iPhone and you don't want to pony up for the X, the 8 or 8 Plus are cheaper. But they don't have the X's new designer display, and they're going to feel old and dated far quicker. What if you don't want to spend a grand on a phone, or you don't want an iPhone, or maybe you do want a headphone jack?

For the best Android phone for most people, my recommendation is Samsung's Galaxy S9 or S9 Plus, which sells for between $720 and $840 bucks. The Samsungs have great design, great performance, great cameras, they're available at every carrier, and they've got a strong ecosystem of accessories available. Yeah, they've got a headphone jack, which lots of phones don't have anymore. Now, they're not the overall best phones because Apple still has a far better support network, and the iPhone X edges out the Samsungs in a number of areas, especially when it comes to software.

But they're still great devices that I really have no hesitation recommending. At this point you're probably wondering why I'm not recommending that Google Pixel 2 XL or the OnePlus 6 or whatever your favorite phone at the moment is. So let's talk about them. The Pixel 2 and 2 XL have the best software you could get on a smartphone, period. And they have great cameras too.

And finally, there are some other options out there that might be worth considering depending on what you're looking for in a phone. For example, Samsung's Note 8 has a whole legion of fans who swear by its extra large screen and S Pen capability. And HTC's U12 has four cameras which is pretty impressive if you like taking photos with your phone. Or Huawei's P20 Pro that has an equally ridiculous camera system that can take really stunning shots.

But none of those phones are the best overall because they might have bad software, weak battery life, too big design, or just weird design. Things like these fake buttons on the HTC. So while you'll never hear me say that this is the perfect phone, what I will say is that if you're looking to buy a phone now that's going to last two or three years, then you should buy the Apple iPhone X.

Hey, thanks for watching. For more on all this stuff be sure to subscribe. And also check out our new Science Channel, which you can get to at YouTube.com/science

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: en- Without a doubt,the most important gadgetin your life is your phone.It's everything.It's communication,information, entertainment,gaming, navigation.It's really hard to think about lifewithout a phone at this point,so picking the right phone isall that much more important,because this is the thingthat you're going tobe looking at the mostover the next one, two,maybe even three years.Here's the brutal, honest truth.Even though phones have beena thing for over a decade,there still isn't a perfect smartphone.There isn't even a phone that I could saywill be perfect for everyone's needs.There will always be somethingabout whatever phone you buythat annoys you, or doesn'twor, or you don't like.But there is a recommendationI can make for most peoplewho want a good phone with a great camera,great display, great performance,easy and simple to use software,and a great support structure.And if that doesn't work for you,you've got a bunch ofalternatives to talk about too.so let's roll those graphics.The best phone for most peoplelooking to buy somethingthat will still be modern and fresha couple of years fromnow is Apple's iPhone X.Has a great display, greatcamera, wicked fast performance,a great support structure from Apple,and has forward lookingfeatures and designthat won't feel stale next year.Now the iPhone X is not the best phonein a bunch of specific categories,and it's definitely not perfect.It has an all glass designthat will definitelybreak when you drop it.Its Face ID Log In Systemis not as fast or convenientas a fingerprint scanner,and it doesn't have a headphone jack,which is still a painin the ass to live with.And, oh yeah, it starts ata thousand freaking bucks,which basically means it's going to bethe most expensive phoneyou've ever purchased.You could soften the blow of that priceif you buy the phone ona payment plan from Appleor your carrier, but thatdoesn't change the factthat the iPhone X is really pricey.But the price is worth itbecause you get a big edge-to-edge displaythat still fits in one hand,it has a gesture control systemthat's by far the most funway to navigate a smartphone,and it has fast performancewith a reliable battery life.Overall, the iPhone Xhas the best completepackage for most people.So what about the iPhone 8 or iPhone Plus?If you must have an iPhone,and you don't want to pony up for the X,the 8 or 8 Plus are cheaper.But they don't have theX's new designer display,and they're going to feelold and dated far quicker,but what if you don't wantto spend a grand on a phone,or you don't want an iPhone,or maybe you do want a headphone jack?For the best Androidphone for most people,my recommendation is Samsung'sGalaxy S9, or S9 Plus,which sells for between$720, and $840 bucks.The Samsungs have great design,great performance, great cameras,they're available at every carrier,and they've a strong ecosystemof accessories available.And yeah, they've got a headphone jack,which lots of phones don't have anymore.Now, they're not the overall best phonesbecause Apple still has afar better support network,and the iPhone X edges out the Samnsungsin a number of areas,especially when it comes to software.But they're still great devicesthat I really have nohesitation recommending.So at this point you're probably wonderingwhy I'm not recommendingthat Google Pixel 2 XL,or the OnePlus 6, orwhatever your favorite phoneat the moment is.So let's talk about them.Now, the Pixel 2 and 2 XLhave the best software youcould get on any Android Phone.They're made by Google.They've the best camerason any phone, period.And they get updates direct from Google,so they're always fresh.But they're only availableto purchase from one carrier, Verizon.They don't have thesupport system of Apple,or even Samsung, and they'veother hardware issueslike a lower quality screenthat makes 'em a bit tough to recommendwithout reservations.But if none of those thingsare a problem for you,then go nuts.You'll love a Pixel.And OnePlus's new OnePlus 6is the current value king in smartphones,you simply can't get abetter deal for performance.It's literally half theprice of an iPhone X,but you do give up a lot for that.Its cameras, they're nowhere near as good.It doesn't work on half thecarriers here in the US,and OnePlus's supportis definitely inferiorto established makerslike Apple or Samsung.Then there's lots of otherphones with specific nicheslike LG's G7, whichgives you a lot of screenin a relatively small package.Or HTC's U12 that has four cameras.Or Huawei's P20 Prothat has an equallyridiculous camera systemthat can take really stunning shots.Samsung's Note 8 hasa whole legion of fansthat swear by its extra largescreen and S Pen capability.But none of those phonesare the best overall,because they might have bad software,weak battery life, too big design,or just weird design.Things like these fake buttons on the HTC.So while you'll never hear me say thatthis is the perfectphone, what I will say isthat if you're looking to buy a phone nowthat's going to last two or three years,then you should buy the Apple iPhone X.Hey, thanks for watching.For more on all this stuffbe sure to subscribe.And also check out ournew Science Channel,which you can get toat YouTube.com/science\n"