How the experiment was conducted
Android Authority editor Stephen Radochia asked all three models an identical question. He carefully formulated it so that the answers wouldn't be influenced by his own conversation history — he wanted a clean, unbiased recommendation. The prompt read:
"I want you to choose the best smartphone for most people. I don't want my personal opinions to factor into the decision. Consider price, software support, performance, common user scenarios, consumer reviews, and overall sentiment. Pick the best one with an explanation and list the top three with reasons."
The results revealed not only what AI "knows" about smartphones, but above all how differently each model thinks — and where their weaknesses lie.
ChatGPT: A surprisingly level-headed pragmatist
ChatGPT running GPT-5.5 (currently the default model for both free and paid users) didn't hesitate for a second. Its answer? Google Pixel 10. No drama, no gushing over extreme zoom or giant displays — just a pragmatic assessment of what the average person actually needs from a phone.
ChatGPT's main arguments for the Pixel 10 were three: camera, software support, and price-to-performance ratio. The model appreciated that the Pixel 10 delivers flagship-quality photos even for complete beginners — you don't need to be a photographer to get great shots from it. It also highlighted that for around $799 (approx. CZK 19,000 in the Czech Republic), you get a phone that keeps pace with devices costing CZK 25,000 and up.
As honorable mentions, ChatGPT named the iPhone 17 Pro Max and the base Samsung Galaxy S26. It admitted the iPhone is still the best choice for the mainstream buyer, but argued that the Pixel 10 offers the best overall balance. Interestingly, the model volunteered that "most users don't need extreme zoom or an oversized display" — a level-headedness you'd sooner expect from an experienced reviewer than a large language model.
Claude: iPhone 17 and a surprising OnePlus 15
Claude (specifically Sonnet 4.6) took a different approach. After a minute of deliberation, it named the standard iPhone 17 as the best choice, using very similar arguments to ChatGPT — only applied to the Apple ecosystem. Lower price, great software support, solid performance. Classic.
Claude stood out in one regard, though: it was the only model to include the OnePlus 15 in its top three. And this despite OnePlus scaling back its presence in the US market in recent years. Claude correctly identified that the OnePlus 15 offers flagship performance at a price significantly lower than the Pixel 10 Pro XL or Galaxy S26 Ultra — exactly the formula that once made the brand famous. In the Czech Republic, the OnePlus 15 sells for around CZK 17,000, making it one of the most affordable flagship phones on the market.
It was interesting that Claude leaned heavily on reviews, and you could tell its arguments mainly reflected what journalists had written. When the editor confronted it, asking whether it stood by its recommendation, Claude didn't flinch — the iPhone 17 remained its top choice.
Gemini: Indecision and a return to reality
The most entertaining part was with Google's Gemini 3.5 Flash. The model first confidently recommended the Pixel 9 Pro XL and mentioned the Galaxy S25 as an honorable mention — both 2024 models. When the editor reminded it that the year is 2026, Gemini corrected itself.
After updating its answer, it agreed with Claude: iPhone 17. But the reasoning, according to the editor, was far more superficial — Gemini seemed to be echoing the marketing "hype" around Apple, without much depth. So when Radochia asked it to look past the hype and answer again, Gemini changed its mind to the Pixel 10 — this time emphasizing longer software support and lower total cost of ownership.
Gemini was also the only model that mentioned the Google Pixel 10a as a sensible alternative. It pointed out that 90% of what people do on their phones is browsing the web, social media, and communication — and that most users have no reason at all to spend over CZK 25,000 on a flagship model. The Pixel 10a comes in at around $500 (approx. CZK 12,000 in the Czech Republic) and is more than sufficient for everyday use.
What this means for the average user
The experiment uncovered several important things about how AI models work as shopping advisors:
1. Each model has its own "personality." ChatGPT is pragmatic, Claude relies on reviews, and Gemini is prone to adopting the marketing narrative. The result depends not only on the data but also on how the model weighs information.
2. AI is not infallible. Gemini was recommending two-year-old phones until someone corrected it. Without active dialogue, it would have given you bad advice.
3. The models agree on what matters. Even though they couldn't agree on a specific winner, all three models emphasized price, software support, and practical usability — not extreme specs or marketing gimmicks.
This is particularly relevant for Czech consumers. Prices of flagship phones in the Czech Republic regularly exceed CZK 30,000 (Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra), iPhone 17 Pro Max), and yet for half that, you can get a phone that handles 95% of the same tasks. In this sense, AI models act as a counterbalance to marketing — they remind us that more doesn't always mean better.
How these phones fare on the Czech market
All three winning models — Google Pixel 10, iPhone 17, and OnePlus 15 — are readily available in the Czech Republic through official distribution as well as grey imports:
- Google Pixel 10 (from ~CZK 19,000): Officially available through the Google Store CZ and major e-shops. Offers 7 years of software support — the longest of all the models mentioned.
- iPhone 17 (from ~CZK 22,000): Available everywhere — Alza, iWant, Datart. Apple promises 5–6 years of updates; Czech Siri still lags behind the English version.
- OnePlus 15 (from ~CZK 17,000): Officially available through OnePlus CZ. Excellent value for money, but shorter software support (4 years) than the competition.
AI as a shopping advisor? Yes, but use common sense
The experiment shows that large language models can be a useful shopping advisor — but only if you engage in dialogue with them. ChatGPT performed the best in the experiment, coming across as the most balanced and pragmatic. Its choice of the Pixel 10 wasn't exciting, but it was honest. And that's exactly what you want from a purchasing recommendation.
If you use AI to help choose electronics, treat it as a smart discussion partner, not an oracle. Ask questions, challenge it, demand sources. And above all — leave the final decision to yourself. No model is going to go to Alza or iWant for you.
Which AI models were used in the experiment and how do they differ?
The experiment tested ChatGPT with the GPT-5.5 model (OpenAI), Claude with Sonnet 4.6 (Anthropic), and Gemini 3.5 Flash (Google). They differ in how they weigh individual factors — ChatGPT is more pragmatic, Claude relies heavily on journalist reviews, and Gemini tends to adopt marketing narratives unless corrected.
Can AI be used to choose other electronics, not just phones?
Yes, the principle is the same. AI models can process large amounts of reviews, specifications, and user ratings for laptops, headphones, tablets, and other devices. The key, however, is to engage in dialogue with them, verify their claims, and not take the first answer as definitive. It's ideal to ask follow-up questions like "why do you think this is better than the competition?"
Why did Gemini recommend two-year-old phones?
This is a known phenomenon with AI models — the so-called "cutoff date," meaning the date at which their training data ends. If a model lacks enough current information or doesn't realize you're asking about the present, it may reach for older data. In the experiment, simply reminding Gemini of the current year was enough for the model to correct its answer.
