The best tech of 2026 in Australia, with today's prices
Our picks of the best phones, foldables, laptops, tablets, headphones, TVs, consoles, watches and drones of 2026, each with its cheapest price at Australian stores today.
In this guide
- Phone of the year: Galaxy S26 Ultra
- Launch of the year: iPhone Duo
- Best foldable: Galaxy Z Fold8
- Best value phone: Pixel 10a
- Best laptop: MacBook Air M5
- Best tablet: iPad Air M4
- Best earbuds: AirPods Pro 3
- Best headphones: Sony WH-1000XM6
- Best TV: Samsung S85H OLED
- Best console: Nintendo Switch 2
- Best smartwatch: Apple Watch Series 12
- Best drone: DJI Mini 5 Pro
- Best robot vacuum: Dreame L40 Ultra
- Buying any of these for Christmas?
Every year has a few products that are clearly the ones to buy. These are ours for 2026: one pick per category, chosen for what you get for the money rather than for the spec sheet. Each comes with today's cheapest price at the Australian stores we check, updated every morning, so you can see when one of them drops.
Phone of the year: Galaxy S26 Ultra
The most complete phone you can buy: a big 6.9-inch screen, a 200MP camera with long zoom, and the S Pen built in. Prices have already come down from launch.
Prefer iPhone? The iPhone 17 Pro is now $1,699, well under the new 18 Pro's $2,049.99, and still one of the best phones on sale. Our best phones in Australia has picks at every budget.
Launch of the year: iPhone Duo
Apple's first foldable is the biggest launch of 2026, and the most expensive iPhone ever sold here. It isn't for everyone, but it's the one everybody is asking about.
We wrote a whole piece on it: is the iPhone Duo worth $3,499?
Best foldable: Galaxy Z Fold8
Samsung's new wider Fold is the foldable we'd actually buy: easy to use closed, a tablet inside, and hundreds less than the iPhone Duo.
Best value phone: Pixel 10a
A great camera and clean Google software at a mid-range price.
Best laptop: MacBook Air M5
Silent, light, with all-day battery and a great screen. This 16GB / 512GB configuration is the one we'd buy.
Best tablet: iPad Air M4
Fast enough for anything you'll do on a tablet, for far less than an iPad Pro.
Want something cheaper? The iPad (A16) is $696 today.
Best earbuds: AirPods Pro 3
The most widely stocked earbuds we track, which means real competition on price. Great noise cancelling for iPhone owners.
Best headphones: Sony WH-1000XM6
Sony's over-ear noise-cancelling headphones are the ones to beat for flights and commutes.
Best TV: Samsung S85H OLED
Best console: Nintendo Switch 2
The console of the year, and stocked by more stores we check than any other console.
Best smartwatch: Apple Watch Series 12
On Android? Look at the Galaxy Watch9, $421.95 today.
Best drone: DJI Mini 5 Pro
A 1-inch camera sensor in a drone light enough for the lighter rules most countries apply under 250 g.
Best robot vacuum: Dreame L40 Ultra
Buying any of these for Christmas?
Prices on most of this list will move in November. Read the best time to buy electronics and our Black Friday 2026 tech deals before you pay full price, and see the best tech gifts for Christmas 2026 for ideas at every budget.
