After two consecutive wins by Google Pixel devices, Apple has reclaimed the “Best Smartphone” title at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) Global Mobile (GLOMO) Awards in 2026. The award this year went to the iPhone 17 series, ending Pixel’s back-to-back victories in previous years.
The GLOMO Awards at MWC recognize major achievements in mobile technology across multiple categories, including the highly competitive “Best Smartphone” award.
Google had secured the title in both 2024 and 2025. The Pixel 8 series won the award in 2024, followed by the Pixel 9 Pro in 2025. Before Google’s wins, Apple held the title in 2022 and 2023 for the iPhone 13 Pro Max and iPhone 14 Pro. Earlier, Samsung’s Galaxy S21 Ultra received the award in 2021.
For 2026, the Google Pixel 10 series was again nominated in the category. Other nominated devices included the Galaxy Z Fold 7, Oppo Find X9 Pro and Honor Magic V5. However, Apple’s iPhone 17 series ultimately secured the top position this year.
The judging criteria for the “Best Smartphone” award covered multiple aspects of device performance and innovation. These included physical design and innovation, device performance and form factor and the introduction of genuine new technologies or features.
Other evaluation factors included the usefulness of the product in terms of functionality, price point and perceived value for money, global commercial success, user experience, quality and reliability and environmental and sustainability credentials. Judges also considered a company’s long-term commitment to device support, including software upgrades.
While Google’s Pixel line-up likely performed strongly across many of these criteria, the iPhone 17 series represented a major upgrade for Apple, which helped it secure the 2026 award.
Meanwhile, Honor received recognition in another category at the event. The company won the “Disruptive Device Innovation” award for the implementation and commercialization of silicon carbon battery technology in its devices. This includes its new Magic V6 foldable smartphone, which also received one of the “Best of MWC” awards during the event.
The results highlight the continued competition among leading smartphone brands as companies focus on innovation, performance and user experience to stand out in the global market.
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