The most effective Android telephones

The Android ecosystem is all about alternative. Whereas iPhone house owners have a smaller pool of latest units to choose from when it’s time to improve, there’s a a lot wider vary of decisions on Android. You need unbelievable digicam zoom? A built-in stylus? A telephone that runs a whole desktop atmosphere while you plug it right into a monitor? You could find it on Android. Heck, you could find all of that in a single gadget.

On the flip facet, all that alternative could make for some arduous choices. Right here’s the place I’d like to assist; I’ve examined an entire boatload of current Android telephones, and I feel there are some actual winners within the present batch. It’s all a matter of what you’re in search of, what you’re snug spending, and what your definition of a “reasonably sized phone” is. (I’ve my very own, personally.)

As you sift by the choices, you’ll virtually definitely come throughout tech’s favourite buzzphrase of the yr: AI. Usually talking, AI has but to essentially impress me on a telephone. The Pixel 9 collection has some probably helpful options, like a brand new Screenshots app that makes use of AI to tag related data in metadata, and Galaxy units can translate a telephone name for you in actual time. This stuff are nothing to sneeze at! However none of it feels just like the platform shift that the massive tech corporations preserve promising. Finest to not put an excessive amount of inventory in any firm’s AI claims simply but.

If you happen to reside within the US, I’ve some unhealthy information concerning the Android market, although. For classy causes having to do with “capitalism” and “geopolitics,” we don’t get practically as lots of the choices as you’ll discover in Asia and Europe — manufacturers like Huawei, Xiaomi, Honor, and Oppo simply aren’t out there right here. I’ve restricted this information to the units I’ve personally examined in depth; thus, it’s a pretty US-centric set of suggestions. 

With that in thoughts, it’s additionally price acknowledging that most individuals within the US get their telephones “for free” from their wi-fi provider. If you happen to can handle it, shopping for a telephone unlocked gives you essentially the most flexibility and freedom if you find yourself wanting to vary carriers within the close to future. Cellphone producers additionally provide financing and trade-in offers to make cost extra manageable. However in case you’re completely satisfied along with your provider and the free telephone on provide is the one you actually need, by all means, take the free telephone. Simply ensure you perceive the phrases, particularly if it’s essential change plans to money in on the deal. 

Nevertheless you go about it, you have got some incredible choices to your subsequent Android telephone.

Display screen: 6.3-inch 1080p 120Hz OLED / Processor: Tensor G4 / Cameras: 50-megapixel f/1.7 predominant with OIS, 48-megapixel ultrawide, 10.5-megapixel selfie / Battery: 4,700mAh / Charging: 27W wired, 15W wi-fi (with Pixel Stand 2) / Climate resistance: IP68

Google’s {hardware} is best than ever, and the entire Pixel 9 lineup feels simply as polished as something you’d get from Samsung or Apple. However at $799, the essential Pixel 9 is in a very interesting place, and in case you don’t want a telephoto digicam or the largest display screen, then that is the Android telephone to get.

The Pixel 9 comes with some important quality-of-life enhancements like a sooner fingerprint scanner for unlocking the telephone. The digicam is as dependable as ever, and in case you’re into AI photograph enhancing tips, boy does this telephone have ‘em. There’s a brand new Screenshots app that acts as a spot to retailer all the data that will in any other case be misplaced at sea in your digicam roll, and it makes use of AI to parse data out and make it searchable. Kinda helpful.

Even with out AI, this is a superb telephone. It’s additionally designed to go the gap, with seven years of promised OS updates, which very probably means you’ll outgrow the telephone earlier than Google stops supporting it. Its potential for long-term worth and the standard of the {hardware} make it a simple suggestion for anybody who simply desires a pleasant Android telephone that works.

Learn my full Google Pixel 9 evaluate.

Display screen: 6.8-inch 1440p 120Hz OLED / Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 / Cameras: 200-megapixel predominant with OIS, 50-megapixel 5x telephoto with OIS, 10-megapixel 3x telephoto with OIS, 12-megapixel ultrawide, 12-megapixel selfie / Battery: 5,000mAh / Charging: 45W wired, 15W wi-fi / Climate resistance: IP68

The Samsung Galaxy S24 Extremely says all of it within the title: Extremely. It has every part you can ask for in a telephone — properly, not less than one which doesn’t fold in half. There’s a stylus, two telephoto cameras, a large battery, and among the finest ding dang screens on any telephone, wherever.

So why am I somewhat underwhelmed? For starters, Samsung swapped final yr’s 10x telephoto digicam for a higher-resolution 5x digicam that makes use of in-sensor crop to zoom to 10x. This can be a wise transfer, and images at 10x look effective, if not as crisp as they did on the final mannequin. It’s additionally pricier this time round, and it was already an costly telephone. It’s fairly darn heavy, too, and Samsung’s swap to titanium for the body hasn’t made it any lighter.

Private emotions concerning the zoom lens apart, the S24 Extremely continues to be principally peerless. Its much-touted AI options are effective, but when there’s one factor that makes it well worth the improve, it’s the display screen. Its anti-glare coating and boosted most brightness make it so snug to make use of exterior it’s virtually magic. That’s hardly a flowery new tech function, however the Galaxy S24 Extremely is hardly any outdated telephone.

Learn my full Samsung Galaxy S24 Extremely evaluate.

Display screen: 6.82-inch 1440p 120Hz LTPO OLED / Processor: Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Cameras: 50-megapixel f/1.6 predominant with OIS, 64-megapixel 3x telephoto with OIS, 48-megapixel f/2.2 ultrawide / Battery: 5400mAh / Charging: 80W wired, 50W wi-fi / Climate-resistance score: IP65

After just a few years and somewhat soul-searching, OnePlus is again to its roots. The OnePlus 12 is a superb gadget with high-end efficiency with a aggressive worth: $799 for the bottom mannequin with a hefty 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage.

For that worth, you get a crisp 1440p 6.8-inch show, a top-tier Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, and a succesful digicam. It helps wi-fi charging, one thing that earlier OnePlus flagships have skipped. Battery efficiency is incredible, too — energy customers can get by a full day, and lightweight customers can stretch it to 2.

What stands out concerning the OnePlus 12, although, would possibly simply be what’s not right here: a bunch of AI options. Actually? That’s sort of refreshing. Among the AI options Google and Samsung are busy delivery proper now are good, however none of them really feel important. If you wish to sit out this AI hype cycle however you continue to need a fantastic telephone, the OnePlus 12 is likely to be the one.

Learn my full OnePlus 12 evaluate.

Display screen: 8.0-inch 2076p 120Hz OLED interior display screen, 6.3-inch 1080p 120Hz OLED cowl display screen / Processor: Tensor G4 / Cameras: 48-megapixel f/1.7 predominant with OIS, 10.8-megapixel 5x telephoto with OIS, 10.5-megapixel ultrawide, 10-megapixel selfie (cowl display screen), 10-megapixel interior selfie digicam / Battery: 4,650mAh / Charging: 21W wired, 7.5W wi-fi / Climate resistance: IPX8

Does anybody really want a folding telephone? In all probability not. However utilizing one is terribly good, and the Pixel 9 Professional Fold is the nicest book-style foldable I’ve used up to now. It’s expensive, it’s nonetheless bulkier than a slab-style telephone, and its cameras aren’t fairly as good as the opposite Pixel 9 Professional telephones. Nevertheless it’s a pleasure to make use of, each as a daily telephone with the quilt display screen and while you unfold the massive interior display screen.

The 9 Professional Fold is Google’s second folding telephone, following up the passport-shaped Pixel Fold with a format that feels rather more acquainted. The outer display screen measures 6.3 inches on the diagonal, however extra importantly, the ratio is similar as Google’s slab telephones. By comparability, Samsung’s Z Fold 6 makes use of a taller, narrower format that feels cramped. Having used them each, I a lot choose the 9 Professional Fold’s strategy.

That mentioned, the 9 Professional Fold isn’t with out compromises. The digicam system isn’t fairly nearly as good as what you get within the different 9 Professional telephones. The outer display screen isn’t as sharp or vivid because the Pixel 9 Professional’s, both. And it’s not as sturdy as its slab-style counterparts — there’s no mud resistance, and you may’t get it repaired simply wherever. For $1,800, that’s an terrible lot to swallow. For the adventurous early adopter, although, the 9 Professional Fold will probably be very rewarding.

Learn my full Google Pixel 9 Professional Fold evaluate.

Display screen: 6.7-inch 1080p 120Hz OLED / Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 / Cameras: 50-megapixel F/1.9 predominant with OIS, 50-megapixel ultrawide, 32-megapixel selfie / Battery: 4,700mAh / Charging: 45W wired, 15W wi-fi / Climate resistance: IP54

The Nothing Cellphone 2 doesn’t provide the easiest worth proposition in its upper-midrange class. But when it’s fashion you’re after and one thing somewhat flashy (properly, rather a lot flashy), then the Cellphone 2 is a simple decide.

It affords 6.7-inch display screen, nice every day efficiency and battery life, and a succesful digicam system. However that’s the standard stuff — what’s uncommon concerning the Cellphone 2 is its set of LED gentle strips on the again panel. They illuminate in combos referred to as “glyphs,” and you may set them to provide you with a warning to sure notifications. It’s neat however finally isn’t as useful because the system’s customizable always-on show.

On the draw back, the Cellphone 2 is barely splash-resistant moderately than absolutely proof against water submersion like nearly all different telephones over $500. It’s additionally not absolutely supported on Verizon’s community, which takes it out of competition for lots of the US inhabitants.

If neither of the above is a deal-breaker, and the Cellphone 2’s styling appeals to you, then it’s a superb alternative. One factor’s for positive — it positively stands out from the gang.

Learn my full Nothing Cellphone 2 evaluate.

There are various extra nice Android units that weren’t coated right here, and some are price calling out that didn’t fairly make the reduce for a suggestion.

• First off, there’s the Galaxy Z Flip 6, Samsung’s glorious clamshell-style foldable. It’s not as a lot enjoyable to make use of because the 2024 Motorola Razr Plus — which facilitates utilizing apps on the quilt display screen extra simply — however Motorola’s observe file for software program updates isn’t nice, so the Z Flip 6 is a safer guess for a flip telephone.
• The OnePlus Open can also be one other good book-style foldable choice. It’s skinny and lightweight, and the software program contains some considerate approaches to multitasking — an important a part of the folding telephone expertise. Nevertheless it received’t be supported with software program updates for so long as the Pixel 9 Professional Fold or the Galaxy Z Fold 6.
• Final however not least, there’s the Google Pixel 8A. If you happen to actually wish to maximize the return in your funding, it’s arduous to beat Google’s newest midrange telephone. It covers all of the fundamentals for $499 whereas providing seven years of software program help.

Replace, September thirteenth: Changed the Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus with the Google Pixel 9 as the most effective Android telephone for most individuals; changed the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 with the Google Pixel 9 Professional as the most effective folding telephone.