{
  "meta": {
    "title": "Curated List Of Best Smartphones 2026",
    "list_description": "Best smartphones 2026 from Curated List Of: transparent, spec-derived rankings and open auditable methodology.",
    "url": "https://curatedlistof.com/smartphones/",
    "scoring_methodology_version": "8.0",
    "scoring_methodology_url": "mailto:hey@curatedlistof.com",
    "last_updated": "2026-03",
    "phones_scored": 10,
    "category_weights": {
      "camera": 0.25,
      "performance": 0.20,
      "display": 0.15,
      "battery": 0.15,
      "software": 0.10,
      "design": 0.10,
      "value": 0.05
    },
    "score_scale": "0–10 per category, 10 = best-in-class",
    "license": "CC BY 4.0 — free to use with attribution"
  },
  "phones": [
    {
      "rank": 1,
      "name": "Xiaomi 15 Ultra",
      "brand": "Xiaomi",
      "launched": "2025",
      "price_usd": 1399,
      "scores": {
        "design": 7.5,
        "display": 8.0,
        "camera": 9.5,
        "performance": 8.0,
        "battery": 8.5,
        "software": 5.0,
        "value": 1.3
      },
      "overall": 7.8,
      "strengths": ["Camera", "Battery", "Materials"],
      "notes": "1-inch Leica main sensor, titanium + ceramic build, 90W wireless charging"
    },
    {
      "rank": 2,
      "name": "iPhone 16 Pro Max",
      "brand": "Apple",
      "launched": "2024",
      "price_usd": 1199,
      "scores": {
        "design": 7.0,
        "display": 7.5,
        "camera": 8.5,
        "performance": 8.0,
        "battery": 5.5,
        "software": 8.3,
        "value": 2.7
      },
      "overall": 7.3,
      "strengths": ["Camera", "Performance", "Ecosystem"],
      "notes": "Titanium frame, A18 Pro chip, 5x optical zoom, Apple Intelligence"
    },
    {
      "rank": 3,
      "name": "Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra",
      "brand": "Samsung",
      "launched": "2025",
      "price_usd": 1299,
      "scores": {
        "design": 7.2,
        "display": 7.5,
        "camera": 8.0,
        "performance": 7.5,
        "battery": 5.5,
        "software": 10.0,
        "value": 2.0
      },
      "overall": 7.3,
      "strengths": ["Software Support", "Camera", "Display"],
      "notes": "7 years OS updates, 200MP main sensor, Snapdragon 8 Elite, S Pen"
    },
    {
      "rank": 4,
      "name": "OnePlus 13",
      "brand": "OnePlus",
      "launched": "2025",
      "price_usd": 899,
      "scores": {
        "design": 6.0,
        "display": 8.0,
        "camera": 6.5,
        "performance": 7.5,
        "battery": 9.0,
        "software": 5.0,
        "value": 4.7
      },
      "overall": 7.0,
      "strengths": ["Battery", "Charging", "Display"],
      "notes": "100W wired + 50W wireless charging, 4500-nit display, Snapdragon 8 Elite"
    },
    {
      "rank": 5,
      "name": "Google Pixel 9 Pro XL",
      "brand": "Google",
      "launched": "2024",
      "price_usd": 1099,
      "scores": {
        "design": 6.5,
        "display": 7.5,
        "camera": 7.5,
        "performance": 7.0,
        "battery": 5.0,
        "software": 10.0,
        "value": 3.3
      },
      "overall": 7.0,
      "strengths": ["Software Support", "AI Features", "Camera"],
      "notes": "7 years OS updates, Tensor G4, best-in-class AI camera processing"
    },
    {
      "rank": 6,
      "name": "Samsung Galaxy S25+",
      "brand": "Samsung",
      "launched": "2025",
      "price_usd": 999,
      "scores": {
        "design": 7.0,
        "display": 7.0,
        "camera": 6.0,
        "performance": 7.5,
        "battery": 5.5,
        "software": 10.0,
        "value": 4.0
      },
      "overall": 6.8,
      "strengths": ["Software Support", "Performance", "Thin Design"],
      "notes": "7 years OS updates, 7.3mm slim profile, Snapdragon 8 Elite"
    },
    {
      "rank": 7,
      "name": "iPhone 16 Pro",
      "brand": "Apple",
      "launched": "2024",
      "price_usd": 999,
      "scores": {
        "design": 7.5,
        "display": 6.5,
        "camera": 7.0,
        "performance": 7.5,
        "battery": 4.5,
        "software": 8.3,
        "value": 4.0
      },
      "overall": 6.7,
      "strengths": ["Design", "Performance", "Ecosystem"],
      "notes": "Titanium frame, A18 Pro chip, 5x optical zoom, compact Pro option"
    },
    {
      "rank": 8,
      "name": "Sony Xperia 1 VII",
      "brand": "Sony",
      "launched": "2025",
      "price_usd": 1299,
      "scores": {
        "design": 6.5,
        "display": 7.5,
        "camera": 7.5,
        "performance": 7.5,
        "battery": 4.0,
        "software": 3.3,
        "value": 2.0
      },
      "overall": 6.2,
      "strengths": ["4K Display", "Zeiss Camera", "Manual Controls"],
      "notes": "4K 120Hz OLED, Zeiss optics, RAW video, 21:9 cinematic aspect ratio"
    },
    {
      "rank": 9,
      "name": "Fairphone 5",
      "brand": "Fairphone",
      "launched": "2023",
      "price_usd": 699,
      "scores": {
        "design": 4.0,
        "display": 3.5,
        "camera": 4.5,
        "performance": 4.0,
        "battery": 4.0,
        "software": 10.0,
        "value": 6.0
      },
      "overall": 4.8,
      "strengths": ["Repairability", "Longevity", "Ethics"],
      "notes": "8+ years support, fully modular/repairable, ethical supply chain"
    },
    {
      "rank": 10,
      "name": "Nothing Phone 3a",
      "brand": "Nothing",
      "launched": "2025",
      "price_usd": 329,
      "scores": {
        "design": 5.0,
        "display": 4.5,
        "camera": 4.5,
        "performance": 3.5,
        "battery": 5.0,
        "software": 3.3,
        "value": 8.5
      },
      "overall": 4.5,
      "strengths": ["Price", "Design Aesthetic", "Value"],
      "notes": "Best-value pick under $350, Glyph lighting, clean Android"
    }
  ]
}