I asked ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini to pick the best smartphone. I did not expect the results

It took a while, but more and more users are turning to AI for advice in their daily lives. The same goes for buying advice (for better or worse). As someone who makes a living reviewing and comparing smartphones, I was wondering how well the top big tongue models would do for me. I wanted to see if they could take in all the feedback and information to come up with consistent recommendations that would benefit most users.

It took some effort and the process wasn’t as clean as I’d hoped – especially with people’s money on the line. But once the smoke cleared, I was surprised by the results. I asked ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini to pick the best smartphone for most people, and here’s what they found.

i use ChatGPT the most among mainstream AI models. I recently launched my own website and I have ChatGPT to thank for walking me through the various WordPress and DNS settings needed to make it happen. I’m also teaching him Linux, one terminal command at a time. It’s a fantastic tool if used correctly, but I’ve never considered AI to be something I’d ask for advice on buying.

I came up with a suggestion that I think makes sense. I didn’t want the models to pick up any preconceived notions from my conversations, so I made sure to mention that up front. I asked each model the same question:

I would like you to choose the best smartphone for most people. I do not want you to assume any bias from my personal opinions or articles. Consider price, software support, performance, usage by most users, consumer reviews, and sentiment. Any information you can include. Choose the best one with explanation and provide top three with reasons for each.

I thought this covered the basics of what I was looking for. ChatGPT-5.5 didn’t hesitate and I was surprised by the response. He chose quickly Google Pixel 10 as the best choice for most consumers, highlighting several reasons. This was a pretty practical option, ignoring most of the noise I’d expect ChatGPT to pick up.

The top three reasons to choose the Pixel 10 are its camera, software speed and support, and battery life. Hailed the Pixel 10 for its flagship-level camera performance for novice users. You don’t need to be an expert to get the most out of your photos. He also mentioned how you can save hundreds of dollars on price and on an equally good flagship experience – something worth noting.

The Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max and Galaxy S26 base were honorable mentions, and ChatGPT acknowledged that the iPhone was still the best for the average mainstream buyer, but preferred the Pixel when considering the best overall balance while keeping the price affordable, which will become more important in 2026.

ChatGPT was practical and that made me happy. He even pointed out at one point that most users don’t need fancy, super-zoom cameras or large screens. It was refreshing to hear, especially since I’ve been bombarded with articles from enthusiasts (myself included) on Google Discover.

I just used it Claude little but I have heard good things from friends who talk to him every day. I ran it and pasted in the same command. After a minute’s thought, Claude Sonnet 4.6 shot back that the standard iPhone 17 is the best choice for most, citing the same reasons ChatGPT prefers the Pixel 10. It was felt that low cost, great software and solid performance were what customers needed most.

I’ve noticed that Claude relies more on reviews, and you can find many of the points he makes in the articles he cites as sources. But when pushed, Claude stuck to his initial assessment. while iPhone 17 Not exactly a bold choice, I was pleasantly surprised by Claude’s honorable mentions. It mentioned the Pixel 10, but the OnePlus 15 was the only model it thought was a good idea for buyers. I found this particularly interesting given the company’s withdrawal from US markets.

When I read the rationale OnePlus 15 It made sense, especially since Claude emphasized that cost was the key. Whatever you think of the company’s choices over the last few years, it’s hard to argue that the OnePlus 15 isn’t a great flagship phone for the Pixel 10 Pro XL and less. Galaxy S26 Ultra. It’s a formula that made OnePlus successful in the first place, and Claude embraced it back in 2026.

I enjoyed asking the most Gemini 3.5 Flash for their views among the three models. At first, Gemini was confused, telling me that the Pixel 9 Pro XL was the best choice, with the Galaxy S25 taking the honors. After explaining that it is 2026, Gemini updated the recommendations.

Like Claude, Gemini initially responded that the iPhone 17 is the best smartphone for most people. Although Claude’s response was heavily influenced by the journalists’ feedback, Gemini went over the top, apparently buying into the iPhone hype. I didn’t get the same item and I didn’t think of the answer I did with ChatGPT and Claude.

So I decided to backtrack a bit and ask if Gemini would still be the iPhone 17 if it lived up to any of the hype. Although he hesitated a bit, saying that the iPhone 17 was a strong competitor with advantages, Gemini eventually changed his answer to the Pixel 10 – citing the extended cost benefits of longer software support. It was a great explanation. I wish this had happened before the iPhone 17 recommendation.

It was the only model that mentioned twins Pixel 10a as a decent alternative, it points out that 90% of what people do on their smartphones is web browsing, social media and communication, and most users have no reason to spend more than $500 for the 10a. It’s a concept that’s easily forgotten, especially with the hype surrounding flagship phones that cost more than $1,000.

While I enjoyed my little experience with AI, it revealed that AI models are not ready to provide buying advice. As with most assignments, I think LLMs are a fantastic sounding board, but only if you are an active participant. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and push back, especially if the reasoning is a bit thin.

If I had to pick a winner, it would be ChatGPT. I prefer the items it weighs when making a decision, and I felt the model best represented the advice I would give to most buyers. The Pixel 10 isn’t flashy, and some will complain about the specs, but when you strip away the nonsense, it’s a great phone for most users.