Below are the ten phones dominating Amazon's chart this year, what each one costs, the specs that matter, and who should buy which.
How this list was compiled
This ranking blends two trusted data sources so it reflects real demand rather than hype:
- Amazon Best Sellers (Cell Phones) — Amazon's own ranking, refreshed roughly hourly based on recent sales.
- Counterpoint Research model-level data — the industry-standard global sales tracker. Counterpoint's data shows Apple's 2024 entry-level iPhone 16 was the biggest winner among buyers in 2025, and the world's most popular Android phone in 2025 was the Samsung Galaxy A16 5G, which placed fifth overall.
Prices listed are typical U.S. Amazon prices at the time of writing and fluctuate frequently.
1. Google Pixel 10a — the budget champion of 2026
The Pixel 10a has been a fixture at the very top of Amazon's cell phone chart since its spring launch, and it's easy to see why. It was officially announced on February 18, 2026, with market release starting March 5, and it sells starting at $499 in the U.S.
Google starts pricing at $499 for the 128GB model, while the 256GB model bumps the price up to $599. The phone is available on all major U.S. carriers and across Canada, Australia and much of Europe.
Key specs: 6.3-inch OLED display with a 120 Hz refresh rate and peak brightness up to 3,000 nits, a 48MP main camera, and a 5,100 mAh battery. It ships with Android 16 and up to 7 major Android upgrades. It keeps the Tensor G4 chip rather than the newer Tensor G5, and the display uses tougher Gorilla Glass 7i.
Why it sells: No price hike over its predecessor, plus an upgraded display, stronger cover glass, faster wireless charging and satellite SOS connectivity. It also brings flagship photo tools like Auto Best Take and a Gemini-powered Camera Coach to the A-series for the first time.
Best for: Anyone who wants near-flagship software and seven years of updates without paying flagship money.
2. Samsung Galaxy S25 FE — the "Fan Edition" sweet spot
The Galaxy S25 FE consistently sits among Amazon's top sellers and is frequently discounted, which keeps it visible on the chart. Announced in September 2025, it features a 6.7-inch display, Exynos 2400 chipset, 4,900 mAh battery and up to 512 GB storage with 8 GB RAM and Gorilla Glass Victus+. It runs Android 16 with a triple camera system.
Price: Typically lands in the upper-$600 range, but Amazon discounts have repeatedly pushed it well below that.
Why it sells: It threads the needle between a true flagship and a stripped-down budget phone — flagship-grade design and Galaxy AI features at a mid-range price. Frequent Amazon price cuts do the rest.
Best for: Buyers who want the Samsung flagship experience and AI features without Galaxy S26 Ultra pricing.
3. Samsung Galaxy A16 5G — the world's best-selling Android phone
This is the quiet giant of the list. The Galaxy A16 5G was the world's most popular Android phone in 2025, finishing fifth overall in Counterpoint's global ranking — one position above the even more budget-oriented Galaxy A06 4G. It's a permanent fixture in Amazon's chart, often selling for around $150–$185.
Key specs: A 6.7-inch display, a 50MP triple camera, and — unusually for the price — up to 6 major OS updates, which is still uncommon for budget phones.
Why it sells: It's one of the cheapest 5G phones with a long software-support promise, making it a default recommendation for value buyers and first phones.
Best for: Budget shoppers, students, kids' first phones, and anyone who just needs a reliable, modern Android device.
4. Google Pixel 9 & Pixel 9a — last-gen value picks
Both the standard Pixel 9 and the cheaper Pixel 9a remain strong Amazon sellers well into 2026, helped by steady price drops now that the Pixel 10 series has launched. They deliver Google's clean software, strong cameras and Gemini AI features at a discount versus the newest models.
Why they sell: Carrier promotions and Amazon discounts on last-gen Pixels make them some of the best value-per-dollar Android phones available.
Best for: Shoppers who want the Pixel camera and AI experience but don't need the absolute latest hardware.
5. Samsung Galaxy S25+ — the big-screen flagship
The Galaxy S25+ holds a regular spot near the top of Amazon's cell phone chart. It pairs a large, high-resolution display with Snapdragon 8 Elite performance, a versatile camera system and Samsung's full Galaxy AI suite.
Why it sells: It offers most of the Ultra experience — big screen, fast chip, premium build — at a lower price than the Ultra, and it's frequently bundled or discounted on Amazon.
Best for: Power users who want a large flagship display without stepping all the way up to the S26 Ultra.
6. Samsung Galaxy A17 5G — the new budget contender
The newer Galaxy A17 5G has quickly climbed into Amazon's best-seller and new-release charts. A carrier-locked Tracfone variant on Amazon is listed with a 6.7" Super AMOLED 90Hz display, 50MP triple camera with OIS, a 5,000mAh battery, 4GB RAM and Android 16.
Why it sells: It's the natural successor to the wildly popular A16 line — a cheap, dependable 5G phone with a big AMOLED screen and long update support.
Best for: Value buyers who want the latest budget Samsung with a nicer screen than the A16.
7. Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra — the premium flagship that still sells
Even at the top of the price ladder, the Galaxy S26 Ultra appears repeatedly across Amazon's best-seller and new-release charts. Its standout selling points are a quad-rear camera array with a 200MP main sensor and two optical zoom options, plus the new Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy with 12GB or 16GB of RAM. In testing it roughly matches and beats the iPhone 17 Pro Max in Geekbench 6.5 multi-core.
Its 6.9-inch AMOLED display and all-new Privacy Display feature — which can black out parts of the screen to hide sensitive information — are its most alluring features.
Best for: Buyers who want the most capable Android phone available and the productivity of a built-in S Pen.
8. Apple iPhone 16 — the world's #1 seller
No best-seller list is complete without it. After Apple was named the world's most successful smartphone vendor in 2025, Counterpoint's report showed it captured seven of the top ten best-selling models globally, with the iPhone 16 leading. The iPhone 16 has an A18 chip nearly as fast as the A18 Pro, plus the Action button and Camera Control button, and it sold particularly well in Japan and the Middle East and Africa.
Why it sells: It's the entry point into Apple's current ecosystem, now at a lower price since the iPhone 17 launched. Apple has narrowed the gap between its standard and Pro phones in performance and features, making the base model exceptional value.
Best for: Anyone in the Apple ecosystem who wants flagship-class performance without paying Pro prices.
9. Samsung Galaxy A06 — the sub-$100 workhorse
The Galaxy A06 is the entry-level anchor of the chart. Samsung's entry-level model jumped four spots in the global top 10, thanks to a broader surge in demand for sub-$100 smartphones — the fastest-growing segment of the market. It finished sixth in Counterpoint's 2025 global ranking, just behind the A16 5G.
Why it sells: It's about as cheap as a functional, modern Android phone gets, making it a high-volume pick for backup phones, kids and emerging markets.
Best for: The tightest budgets, secondary devices, or a basic but capable first smartphone.
10. Google Pixel 10 — the flagship value play
Rounding out the list, the standard Pixel 10 keeps appearing in Amazon's chart thanks to aggressive discounting. Recent weekly deals have taken the Pixel 10 series up to $300 off, and Android Central notes the base Pixel 10 has hit an all-time low of $549. It delivers the newer Tensor G5, an upgraded triple camera and Google's full Gemini AI suite.
Best for: Shoppers who want a current-generation flagship but are willing to wait for — and pounce on — a discount.
Quick comparison table
| Rank | Phone | Typical Amazon price | Standout feature | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Google Pixel 10a | ~$499 | 7 yrs updates, 3,000-nit screen | Budget flagship |
| 2 | Samsung Galaxy S25 FE | ~$600+ (often less) | Flagship feel, frequent deals | Mid-range Samsung |
| 3 | Samsung Galaxy A16 5G | ~$150–185 | Cheapest long-support 5G | Value / first phone |
| 4 | Pixel 9 / 9a | Varies (discounted) | Pixel camera + AI, cheaper | Last-gen value |
| 5 | Samsung Galaxy S25+ | Flagship tier | Big screen + Snapdragon 8 Elite | Big-screen power users |
| 6 | Samsung Galaxy A17 5G | Budget tier | 90Hz AMOLED, OIS camera | Latest budget Samsung |
| 7 | Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra | Premium tier | 200MP cam, Privacy Display, S Pen | Top Android flagship |
| 8 | Apple iPhone 16 | Lower since iPhone 17 | A18 chip, world's #1 seller | Apple ecosystem value |
| 9 | Samsung Galaxy A06 | Under ~$100 | Cheapest modern Android | Tightest budgets |
| 10 | Google Pixel 10 | ~$549 (on deal) | Tensor G5, current flagship | Discount-hunting flagship buyers |
What the 2026 best-seller list tells us about the market
Three trends explain why this list looks the way it does:
1. Affordability wins. The ultra-affordable Galaxy A16 5G and Galaxy A06 4G outsold the flagship Galaxy S25 Ultra in 2025. Amazon shoppers overwhelmingly favor phones under $250 or heavily discounted last-gen flagships.
2. Last-generation flagships are the smart-money buy. With the iPhone 16, Pixel 9 and Galaxy S25 FE all discounted after newer models launched, buyers get 90% of the experience for a fraction of the price.
3. Prices are rising — so deals matter more. Analysts forecast the steepest-ever smartphone shipment decline in 2026 (down about 12.9%), driven by a severe memory-chip (DRAM) shortage tied to AI demand, with the average selling price projected to surge to a record $523. That makes Amazon's discounts on best-sellers more valuable than ever.
What is the best-selling phone on Amazon right now?
The Google Pixel 10a has been one of the most consistent top performers on Amazon's Best Sellers in Cell Phones chart since its March 2026 release, alongside the Samsung Galaxy A16 5G and Galaxy S25 FE.
What is the best-selling phone in the world?
According to Counterpoint Research, Apple's iPhone 16 was the best-selling phone of 2025, and Apple held seven of the ten top-selling models.
Which is the best cheap phone on Amazon?
The Samsung Galaxy A16 5G (around $150–$185) and the sub-$100 Galaxy A06 are the standout budget choices. The A16 5G is notable for offering up to 6 major OS updates, rare at its price.
Are last-year's flagship phones worth buying in 2026?
Yes. Models like the iPhone 16, Pixel 9 and Galaxy S25 FE see steep Amazon discounts once newer generations launch, while still delivering near-current performance and multi-year software support.
Why are smartphone prices going up in 2026?
A global memory-chip shortage driven by AI demand is pushing component costs up, with the average smartphone selling price projected to reach a record $523 in 2026.
