I asked ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini to choose the best smartphone. I didn’t expect the results

It took a while, but more and more users are turning to AI for advice in their daily lives. That also extends to purchasing advice (for better or worse). As someone who reviews and compares smartphones for a living, I was curious to see how well the best full-size language models would perform in my work. I wanted to see if they could assimilate all the reviews and information to come up with a consistent recommendation that would benefit the majority of users.

It took a bit of effort and the process wasn’t as clean as I expected, especially with people’s money on the line. However, 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 this is what they came up with.

I use ChatGPT the most among the main AI models. I recently launched my own website and I have to thank ChatGPT for walking me through the various WordPress and DNS configurations needed to make this happen. I’ll also ask you to teach me Linux, one terminal command at a time. It’s a fantastic tool if used correctly, but I never considered AI as something I would ask for purchasing advice.

I came up with a suggestion that I thought made sense. I didn’t want the models to pick up any bias from my own conversations, so I made sure to say it from the beginning. I posed the same question to each model:

I would like you to choose the best smartphone for most people. I don’t want you to take any bias into account from my personal opinions or articles. Consider price, software compatibility, performance, most user usage, consumer reviews, and opinion. Any data I can get. Choose the best one with an explanation and also provide the top three with reasons for each.

I thought that covered the bases of what I’m looking for. ChatGPT-5.5 did not hesitate and I was surprised by the response. He quickly chose the Google Pixel 10 as the best option for most consumers, highlighting some reasons. It was a remarkably practical choice, one that ignored most of the noise you’d expect ChatGPT to pick up.

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

The Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max and the base Galaxy S26 were the honorable mentions, and ChatGPT admitted that the iPhone was still the best for the average buyer, but favored the Pixel considering the best overall balance while keeping the price reasonable, which has become much more important in 2026.

ChatGPT was practical and I liked that. He even mentioned at one point that most users don’t need fancy cameras with extreme zoom or a large screen. It was refreshing to hear, especially since I’m bombarded with articles from enthusiasts (including myself) on Google Discover.

I have only used claudius in moderation, but I have heard good things from friends who talk to him daily. I turned it on and pasted the same message. After a minute of thought, Claude Sonnet 4.6 responded that the standard iPhone 17 was the best choice for most, citing many of the same reasons ChatGPT preferred the Pixel 10. He felt that the lower price, excellent software support, and solid performance were what customers needed most.

I found that Claude relied heavily on reviews and you could see many of the points reflected in the articles he referenced as sources. However, when pressed, Claude stood by his original assessment. While the iPhone 17 Not exactly a bold choice, I was pleasantly surprised by Claude’s honorable mentions. He mentioned the Pixel 10, but it was the only model that he thought the OnePlus 15 was a good idea for buyers. I found this especially interesting, given the company’s withdrawal from US markets.

When I read the justification, the OnePlus 15 It made sense, especially since Claude highlighted that value is an important consideration. Whatever you think about the company’s choices in recent years, it’s hard to argue that the OnePlus 15 isn’t a great flagship phone at a lower price than the Pixel 10 Pro XL and Galaxy S26 Ultra. It’s a formula that made OnePlus successful in the first place, and Claude still picks it up in 2026.

I had a lot of fun asking Gemini 3.5 Flash for their opinions between the three models. At first, Gemini was confused and told me that the Pixel 9 Pro XL was the best option, along with an honorable mention for the Galaxy S25. Once I explained that it is 2026, Gemini updated the recommendations.

Like Claude, Gemini initially responded that the iPhone 17 was the best smartphone for most people. Even though Claude’s response seemed heavily influenced by journalists’ reviews, Gemini went overboard and apparently accepted the iPhone hype as well. I wasn’t getting the same substance and I also didn’t think about the answer like I did with ChatGPT and Claude.

So I decided to back up a bit and ask if, if Gemini removed any hype, its answer would still be the iPhone 17. Although it wavered a bit, saying the iPhone 17 was a strong contender with merit, Gemini eventually changed its answer to the Pixel 10, citing the extended cost benefits of longer software support. It was a solid explanation. I wish it had happened before the iPhone 17 recommendation.

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

While I enjoyed my little experiment with AI, it revealed that AI models aren’t ready for prime time when it comes to offering purchasing 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 question and reject, especially if the justifications seem a little weak.

If I had to pick a winner, it would be ChatGPT. I prefer the elements they weighed when making a decision and felt the model better represented the advice I would give to most buyers. The Pixel 10 isn’t flashy and some will complain about the specs, but if we cut through the nonsense, it’s a great phone for most users.