Choosing the best Android phone can be overwhelming because there are so many options from so many brands that it’s hard to know where to start. Unlike Apple, which sticks to its sleek iPhone lineup, Android offers a world of variety. Whether it’s Samsung’s latest flagship, an affordable Motorola smartphone, or a unique smartphone with a foldable design, there’s an Android device to suit your needs.
The beauty of Android is its flexibility. You can find phones with a variety of screen sizes, camera settings, battery life, and even quirky extras like stylus support or sturdy builds. Plus, Android allows you to customize your device to your liking. This is something that Apple fans will envy. We’ve tested and researched the best Android phones to help you find the right phone for your budget, lifestyle, and technology preferences.
What to look for in a new Android phone
performance
The main things we look for when choosing our favorite Android phone are very simple. It’s a decent commitment to good performance (both compute and AI), a nice display, a solid design, sharp cameras, long battery life, and ongoing software support. . For performance, we look at benchmarks and other metrics, as well as evaluating phones based on responsiveness. No one wants a device that feels sluggish, whether they’re reading a book, texting, scrolling social media, or playing games.
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For displays, we generally prefer OLED panels, which can produce rich, saturated colors with at least 600 nits of brightness, although most mid-range and high-end phones can achieve 1,000 nits or more. And these days, most of our favorite devices support screens with a fast refresh rate of 90Hz or 120Hz, which adds an extra layer of smoothness and fluidity.
design
Now, we’ll admit that there is some subjectivity when it comes to deciding which phone looks best. However, other design aspects, such as dust and water resistance or screen durability, can make a big difference in long-term survival. It’s also important to consider things like support for wireless charging, power sharing (also known as reverse wireless charging), and UWB connectivity, which can affect how your phone interacts with other devices.
camera
Obviously, when it comes to photography, we’re looking for sharp, colorful photos in both bright and dark conditions. And we want video clips with high dynamic range, rich audio, and smooth image stabilization. Additional cameras for ultra-wide-angle and telephoto lenses are a plus. The best camera should also include features like a dedicated night mode, support for different video recording resolutions, and additional photo modes like time-lapse, slow-motion, and more.
battery and software
Finally, in terms of longevity, we’re looking for all-day battery life (at least 16 hours on a single charge, more is better) from a device that also delivers great results in our local video rundown tests. Wireless charging capabilities have become almost ubiquitous over the past few years, and most of the products we’ve selected have this added benefit. Some Android phones also support fast charging. Finally, with people using their phones longer than ever before, I’d like to see companies commit to software support, upgrades, and regular security updates for at least three years.
Read our full story Google Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro XL Review
processor: Google Tensor G4 | mark: 6.3-inch Super Actua, up to 120Hz | camera: Rear array (50MP wide, 48MP ultra-wide (with macro focus), 48MP 5x telephoto lens), 42MP dual PD selfie front camera with autofocus | battery: 4,700mAh
Lastly is the smaller Pixel Pro. Google’s Pixel series has long been one of the best Android phones, with the Pro models being the better versions. But for those of us with small hands or who like to keep our phones in our pockets, they’re always too big and too cumbersome. Take a look at the Pixel 9 Pro, a smaller version of the Pixel 9 Pro XL. Instead of a relatively large 6.8-inch screen like its larger sibling, the standard Pro has an easier-to-operate 6.3-inch display. No more worrying about accidentally dropping your Pixel Pro while trying to reach the top of the screen!
What’s better is that with the Pixel 9 Pro, Google hasn’t sacrificed any key features to get a smaller size, so you’ll find the same camera setup and performance on both phones. The only real differences are screen size, battery, and charging speed. Non-XL models recharge at a slightly slower rate. However, the Pixel 9 Pro lasted much longer than the XL, scoring nearly 25 hours in our battery test.
Those differences aside, the Pixel 9 Pro lineup is our favorite Android phone due to its top-notch camera performance, interesting AI features, and overall grown-up vibe. While previous Pixel flagships felt fresh with their colorful, blocky designs, this year’s device feels solid and stylish. And, dare I say it, it’s almost like an iPhone. Without the camera bar, it would be pretty hard to distinguish it from an Apple phone.
Maybe it’s because they’ve grown so much over the years, but Pixel phones now cost the same as iPhones. Both the Pixel 9 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro start at $999. While some of us have come to think of Google’s phones as more competitively priced options, this year’s model may be good enough to justify its premium price. If you still want the Pixel 9 family but don’t want to shell out $1,000, the base Pixel 9 is still a solid phone for most people. But as it stands, the Pixel 9 Pro is the best Android phone money can buy. — Cherlynn Low, Associate Editor
- Excellent camera features and improved telephoto camera
- Get 1 year of Gemini Advanced free
- Amazing battery life
- Beautiful, bright screen, easy to use outdoors
- Tensor G4 runs cooler than its predecessor.
- Slower charging speed than XL
- It’s not the best phone for gaming.
$999 on Google
Photo: Sam Rutherford / Engadget
Read our full story Google Pixel 8a review
processor: Google Tensor G3 | mark: 6.1-inch 1,080 x 2,400 OLED, up to 120Hz | camera: Rear array (64MP wide, 13MP ultrawide), 13MP front camera | battery: 4,49mAh
Google’s A-series Pixel has long been one of the best mid-range phones on the market. But now, with the addition of the Tensor G3 chip, the Pixel 8a supports the same powerful and versatile AI features found in Google’s flagship phones, along with a great camera, a stunning 120Hz OLED display, and excellent battery life. The device also comes with comforts like IP67 dust and water resistance and convenient (but slow) 7.5-watt Qi wireless charging. But most importantly, it may be one of the best deals on the market, starting at just $499.
- Colorful 120Hz OLED display
- POWERFUL BATTERY LIFE
- excellent camera
- great value
- slow wireless charging
- thick bezel
$499 on Amazon
Photo: Sam Rutherford / Engadget
Read our full story Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra review
processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 | mark: 6.8-inch dynamic AMOLED QHD+, up to 120Hz | camera: Rear array (200MP, dual pixel AF, digital zoom 100x, 50MP macro, 12MP UW), 12MP front camera | battery: 5,000mAh
Samsung Electronics’ latest super premium phone S24 Ultra A more durable titanium frame, faster performance and much longer battery life thanks to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip. The company has also tweaked its longest telephoto lens to 5x optical zoom, making it more useful in a wider range of situations. But the biggest upgrade is the new full suite of AI tools, which includes text proofing, image editing, and audio transcription features. Add in the best display available on a phone today and a built-in stylus, and you have a very attractive flagship phone. Unfortunately, starting at $1,300, the S24 Ultra is too expensive to recommend to anyone on a budget.
$40 at Samsung Electronics
Read our full story Pixel 9 Pro Fold review
processor: Google Tensor G4 | mark: 8-inch Super Actua Flex LTPO full display, 6.3-inch Actua cover display | camera: Rear array (48MP wide, 10.5MP ultrawide, 10.8MP telephoto), 10MP front camera | battery: 4,650mAh
The small but powerful improvements that Google has brought to its second generation of foldables have catapulted them to the forefront. The Pixel 9 Pro Fold turns the somewhat unfinished original Pixel Fold into a solid phone ready for its prime. Google has revamped the design, featuring a familiar 6.3-inch, 20:9 external display with an aspect ratio that mimics the standard Pixel 9 smartphone, making it easier to use and store. The internal display has a more square aspect ratio and the screen real estate is a bit more spacious than before. The overall handset has a more premium feel thanks to the matte back and satin metal frame, which definitely makes it look more sophisticated.
Along with solid performance (and battery life) and an upgraded design to match, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold still has the best camera of any foldable phone we’ve tried, despite no hardware upgrades from the original version. Additionally, Google’s AI image editing tools like Magic Editor will give you more control over your photos, and Pixel-specific software like Made You Look will make Google’s phone a more attractive foldable device. — Valentina Palladino, Deputy Editor
- sleek design
- A better camera than the competition
- It is thinner and lighter than the previous model.
- Runs cooler than before.
- still expensive
- some software issues
$1,799 at Google
