BEST NON-SAMSUNG
Google Pixel/Pixel XL

I've been using the Pixel and Pixel XL to take snaps of me and my pals for the past few weeks. Its 8-megapixel front-facing camera is a phenomenal performer, though it only shoots at an aperture of f/2.4. It also doesn't have as many extra feature offerings as Samsung's smartphones, though you can download a third-party app like the BestMe Selfie Camera to have some fun with your friends.

Bottom line: If you'd rather go Google because software updates matter more to you than an abundance of camera features, the Pixel is a bona fide selfie shooter.

One more thing: The Pixel also utilizes the helpful double-press-to-launch shortcut like the Galaxy S7.

BEST BUDGET
Honor 8

Huawei is particularly keen on boasting about its selfie capabilities — and for good reason. The Honor 8 is an entry-level smartphone with an 8-megapixel front-facing camera. It shoots at an aperture of f/2.4 and comes bundled with features like the "Perfect selfie," which stores your customized beauty settings.

Bottom line: If you don't want to pay full price for a premium phone, but you still want a worthy selfie-snapping sensor, the Honor 8 is a worth considering.

One more thing: The Honor 8 also has dual 12-megapixel rear-facing cameras on the back, so you won't be compromising your main camera performance either.

BEST OVERALL
Samsung Galaxy S7

Samsung has got the selfie all figured out. The Galaxy S7's 5-megapixel front-facing camera may seem like it's too low resolution for your beauty shots compared to other smartphones out there, but it's a fine performer. The phone also offers a variety of selfie-shooting modes you'll find useful, including filter effects, a robust beautify feature that works like Instant Photoshop, and even a Wide selfie mode, which transforms the Galaxy S7's front-facing camera into an wide-angle camera lens, so you can fit more people into the shot.

Bottom line: You'll win at narcissism with the Galaxy S7's fine front-facing hardware.

One more thing: The Galaxy S7 is available in a more ruggedized form if you're an AT&T subscriber. Just look up the Galaxy S7 Active. Or, if you're looking for a bigger smartphone, the phablet-sized Galaxy S7 Edge also shares the same hardware.

Why the Galaxy S7 is the best

Let's riff on the Galaxy S7's specifications for just a second. This phone is equipped with a 5-megapixel front-facing camera, which shoots at an f/1.7 aperture and feature auto HDR capabilities. The Galaxy S7 also comes equipped with a double-press shortcut, which lets you press the Home button twice to quickly launch the camera app whenever you need. And, if you're aching to be the next YouTube star, you can use the Galaxy S7's Live broadcast feature to stream you and your friends making silly faces at one another.

Conclusion

Samsung knows selfies. It's been attempting to perfect them since the Galaxy S III, likely because it's a major selling point. Don't be deterred by the lower resolution of its front-facing camera, however. There's plenty of fun to be had with Samsung's flagship, including tktk, tktkt, and tktktk. Best of all, you can use the spotlight effect to add a little more glow to your headshots.