Choosing the best Android phone can be a daunting task, as there are so many options from so many brands that it can be difficult to know where to start. Unlike Apple, which sticks to its sleek iPhone lineup, Android offers a world of variety. Whether you're looking for the latest flagship from Samsung, a budget smartphone from Motorola, or something unique with a foldable design, there's always an Android device to suit your needs.
The beauty of Android is its flexibility. You'll find phones with different screen sizes, camera settings, battery life, and even unusual extras like stylus support or rugged construction. Plus, Android lets you customize your device to your liking—something Apple fans will be jealous of. We've tested and researched the best Android phones to help you find the one that suits your budget, lifestyle, and tech preferences.
What to look for in a new Android phone
Performance
When it comes to choosing our favorite Android phones, the main things we look for are pretty simple: good performance (both computing and artificial intelligence), a good display, a solid design, sharp cameras, long battery life, and a significant commitment to ongoing software support. provision. . When it comes to performance, we not only look at benchmarks and other metrics, but also rate phones based on responsiveness. Whether you're reading, texting, browsing social media, or playing a game, no one wants a gadget that feels slow.
Display
When it comes to displays, we generally prefer OLED panels, which can produce rich colors with at least 600 nits of brightness, although many of our best mid- and high-end phones can reach 1,000 nits or more. And recently, most of our favorite devices also support high refresh rate screens of 90Hz or 120Hz, adding an extra layer of fluidity and fluidity.
Design
Now, we acknowledge that there is some subjectivity when deciding which phones look best, but there are other design aspects, such as dust and water resistance or screen durability, that can make a big difference in long-term survival. It's also important to consider things like wireless charging support, power sharing (called reverse wireless charging), and UWB connectivity, which can affect how your phone interacts with other devices.
Cameras
Obviously, for photography, we need sharp and colorful images in both bright and low light. And we need video clips with wide dynamic range, rich sound and smooth image stabilization. The additional ultra-wide and telephoto cameras are a plus. The best cameras should also include features such as dedicated night modes, support for multiple video recording resolutions, and additional photography modes such as slow motion, slow motion, and more.
Battery and software
Finally, when it comes to durability, we want all-day battery life on the devices, which also performed excellently in our local video test (at least 16 hours on a charge, but more is better). Wireless charging options have become almost ubiquitous over the past few years, and most of our top picks have this added bonus. Fast charging is also available on some Android phones. Finally, as people hold on to their phones longer than ever, we'd like to see companies commit to at least three years of software support, updates, and regular security updates.
Read our full Google Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro XL review
CPU: Google Tensor G4 | Display: 6.3-inch Super Actu, up to 120Hz | Cameras: Main camera (50MP wide-angle, 48MP ultra-wide with macro focus, 5x 48MP telephoto), 42MP dual PD autofocus front selfie camera | Battery: 4700 mAh
Finally, the Pixel Pro is smaller. Google's Pixel series has long been one of the best Android phones, with the Pro model being the best version. But it's always been too big and bulky for those of us with small hands or who want our phones to fit in our pockets. Give the signal Pixel 9 Prowhich is a smaller version of the Pixel 9 Pro XL. Instead of a relatively large 6.8-inch screen like its big brother, the standard Pro has a 6.3-inch display that's easy to control. No more worrying about dropping your Pixel Pro just because you couldn't reach the top of the screen!
What's more, with the Pixel 9 Pro, Google hasn't sacrificed any key features for the smaller size, meaning you'll find the same camera settings and performance on both phones. The only real differences are the screen size, battery, and charging speed, as the non-XL model charges a little slower. But the Pixel 9 Pro also lasts much longer than the XL, lasting 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, intriguing AI features, and overall grown-up vibe. While previous Pixel flagships had colorful, blocky designs that felt fresh, this year's devices feel rugged and refined. And, dare we say, almost like iPhones. Without the camera panel, it would be quite difficult to distinguish them from Apple phones.
Perhaps it's because it's grown so much over the years, but Pixel phones now cost the same as iPhones. The Pixel 9 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro start at $999, and while some of us consider Google's phones a more competitive option, this year's model may be good enough to justify the higher price. If you still want something from the Pixel 9 family but don't want to pay $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 Lowe, Deputy Editor
- Great camera features and improved telephoto lens
- Free year of Gemini Advanced
- Incredible battery life
- A beautiful, bright screen that is easy to use outdoors.
- Tensor G4 runs cooler than its predecessor
- Slower charging speed than XL
- Not the best phone for gaming
Photo by Sam Rutherford/Engadget
Read our full Google Pixel 8a review
CPU: Google Tensor G3 | Display: 6.1″ OLED display with 1080 x 2400 resolution, up to 120Hz | Cameras: Rear (64MP Wide, 13MP Ultra Wide), 13MP Front Camera | Battery: 4.49 mAh
Google's A-series Pixels have long been some of the best mid-range phones on the market. But now, with the addition of the Tensor G3 chip, Pixel 8a It features the same powerful and versatile AI features found on Google's flagship phones, plus great cameras, a stunning 120Hz OLED display, and long battery life. The device also comes with amenities like IP67 dust and water resistance and convenient (but slow) 7.5W Qi wireless charging. But most importantly, starting at $499, it may be one of the best deals on the market.
- 120Hz OLED color display
- Powerful battery life
- Great cameras
- Excellent value for money
- Slow wireless charging
- Thick frames
Photo by Sam Rutherford/Engadget
Read our full Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra review
CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 | Display: 6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED QHD+, up to 120Hz | Cameras: Main camera (200 MP, Dual Pixel AF, 100x digital zoom, 50 MP macro, 12 MP UW), 12 MP front camera | Battery: 5000 mAh
For its latest super-premium phone, Samsung has provided S24 Ultra a more durable titanium body, faster performance thanks to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip, and much longer battery life. The company has also tweaked its longest telephoto lens with 5x optical zoom to make it usable in a wider range of situations. But the biggest update is a new comprehensive set of artificial intelligence tools, which includes the ability to proofread texts, edit images and transcribe recordings. And when you add the best display available on a phone today and a built-in stylus, you've got yourself a very attractive flagship phone. Unfortunately, the S24 Ultra starts at $1,300 and is too expensive to recommend to those without deep pockets.
Read our full Pixel 9 Pro Fold review
CPU: Google Tensor G4 | Display: 8″ Super Actua Flex LTPO Full Screen Display, 6.3″ Actua Display | Cameras: Main camera (48MP wide, 10.5MP ultra-wide, 10.8MP telephoto), 10MP front camera | Battery: 4650 mAh
The small but powerful improvements that Google has made to its second-generation foldable smartphone have pushed it to the forefront. Pixel 9 Pro Foldable turns the somewhat unfinished original Pixel Fold into a solid phone ready for prime time. Google has refined its design to an aspect ratio that mimics the standard Pixel 9 smartphones, with a familiar 6.3-inch 20:9 external display that's easy to use and hold. The internal display has a squarer aspect ratio and slightly more screen real estate than before. Overall the phone looks more premium and of course more sophisticated thanks to the matte back panel and brushed metal frame.
Along with strong performance (and battery life) and an updated design to match, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold still has the best cameras of any foldable phone we've tried, despite not having any hardware upgrades over the original version. Plus, Google's AI-powered image editing tools like Magic Editor give you more control over your photos, and Pixel-only software like Made You Look makes Google's phone look more attractive and foldable. — Valentina Palladino, deputy editor
- Stylish design
- Cameras are better than competitors
- Thinner and lighter than the previous model.
- Runs cooler than before
- Still expensive
- Some software features