Out there for an Android improve? Competitors has by no means been stiffer, with all method of makers vying to your prestigious pocket area – making selecting the right Android telephone a difficult job.
With each telephone beneath the solar desirous to be named the very best smartphone on sale, you may really feel spoilt for alternative. We’re right here to assist. We’ve examined all the newest Android handsets and rated our favourites within the record beneath. That features premium flagships from the likes of Google, Samsung and Sony, plus a handful of extra inexpensive Android alternate options.
Whether or not you’re able to shell out on a top-end phone or purchasing for most worth from a mid-range cell, the record beneath will enable you discover your very best Android telephone.
Why you may belief Stuff: Our staff of consultants rigorously take a look at every product and supply sincere, unbiased critiques that will help you make knowledgeable choices. For extra particulars, learn how we take a look at and price merchandise.
Fast record: what’s the very best Android telephone?
The perfect Android telephones you should purchase as we speak:
1. Samsung Galaxy S24 Extremely
Need the final word Android smartphone expertise, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Extremely is your best choice. Clad in Gorilla Glass Armor glass set in a titanium body, it feels equal components premium and rugged within the hand. Its sizeable 6.8in AMOLED show is classy on the eyes, and eventually swaps curved edges for a flat panel. That makes it an ideal pairing to the bundled S Pen stylus.
Productiveness can be boosted by genuinely useful on-device AI skills. Efficiency elsewhere is peerless, courtesy of a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 CPU working at increased speeds than any rival. The Extremely merely whizzes by nearly each app, job and sport. The highest-spec S24 will get an overhauled zoom digicam, with the next pixel depend sensor and 5x optical zoom doing a greater job in low gentle than final 12 months’s mannequin, though the 200MP predominant snapper, 12MP ultra-wide and 10MP 3x zoom keep the identical. Meaning rivals have caught up, and in some instances exceeded, Samsung for image high quality. There’s little or no in it, although.
You’ll pay handsomely for the privilege of compressing an S24 Extremely into your pocket. However if you happen to’re keen to take action, your reward would be the finest Android smartphone you should purchase proper now.
2. Google Pixel 9 Professional
The Google Pixel 9 Professional units a brand new normal for Pixel smartphones, providing cutting-edge tech wrapped in a brand new, extra premium design. For these of us who’ve craved a smaller system with out compromising on efficiency, this new Professional mannequin is a game-changer, mixing the very best digicam tech, AI smarts, and an distinctive battery, into the extra compact 6.3in dimension.
The design is nice, with straight edges, a matte glass again, and a brand new pill-shaped digicam island that highlights Google’s concentrate on pictures. It feels beautiful in hand and is extra sturdy than earlier fashions, with IP68 water resistance and a refined color palette.
The Actua show is a standout, providing unbelievable brightness and vibrant colors, even outperforming the iPhone 15 in direct daylight. Paired with a 120Hz refresh price, each swipe is buttery clean. As anticipated, the digicam system is top-tier, particularly the upgraded 48MP ultrawide and periscope telephoto lenses. AI-driven instruments like Magic Editor make enhancing pictures easy, whereas new options like ‘Add Me’ allow you to seem in group pictures post-capture.
Nonetheless, charging speeds lag behind rivals, and it’s pricier than earlier Pixel fashions. However with seven years of software program updates, premium design, and AI-powered efficiency, we really feel the Pixel 9 Professional is a worthy funding for many who desire a compact but highly effective flagship smartphone. Google has really stepped into the high-end area with this one.
3. Samsung Galaxy A55
Need the Samsung status with out the high-end price ticket? Then the A55 is a finances contender worthy of your shortlist. With a price ticket properly beneath the lofty heights of the Galaxy S24 vary, it is a tremendous inexpensive handset which sacrifices some flagship type and energy, whereas nonetheless offering a strong smartphone expertise.
One among its standout options throughout our evaluation was its sharp, punchy display screen, together with its succesful multi-lens digicam system, with an honest selfie digicam in addition. And in contrast to earlier A sequence telephones (which massively upset on the ability entrance), we’re happy to report that the A55’s Exynos 1480 CPU and eight/12GB of RAM make for a far smoother expertise.
Throw in fairly quick (although removed from groundbreaking) 25W charging, and also you’ve acquired your self a extra inexpensive Samsung handset that gives the extremely coveted Samsung-esque expertise, at a much more palatable worth.
4. Google Pixel 8a
The Pixel 8a is a part of Google’s inexpensive ‘A’ sequence, which guarantees the same Pixel expertise to its dearer siblings for much less cash. We predict this makes it an excellent bang-for-buck choice. And there’s tons to like right here.
From its impeccable digicam abilities and punchy efficiency to a minimalist Pixel design and pure Android expertise, this might be the final word alternative for Google followers. Earlier Pixel A telephones had a couple of specs that lagged behind a few of the competitors, however the newest 8a has mounted that, making it unquestionably the very best mid-range smartphone round.
Okay, the charging speeds stay barely behind rivals, and never all AI options can be found to consumers within the UK and Europe, however until you’re keen to spend almost double the cash on a flagship with much more versatile cameras, the Pixel 8a is all the things you’ll ever want.
5. OnePlus 12
Delivering killer specs at a aggressive worth level, we predict the OnePlus 12 hits one other residence run—although maybe not fairly as far out of the park this time, because of a worth hike in comparison with final 12 months’s mannequin. Its all-screen frontage nonetheless matches the fashionable mould, and the tactile matte again provides a premium really feel. The show itself is excellent, with dynamic refresh charges starting from 1 to 120Hz, making certain clean efficiency throughout the board.
The trademark alert slider immediately marks it as a OnePlus system, whereas the Hasselblad branding on the distinctive round digicam bump hints at enhanced pictures options. In our expertise, the outcomes are nice in most circumstances, with Professional and 12-bit RAW+ modes providing critical flexibility for pictures lovers. Low-light efficiency has additionally seen a noticeable enchancment over final 12 months.
Efficiency-wise, the OnePlus 12 is predictably excellent, dealing with all the things we threw at it with ease. Battery life was impressively frugal throughout our checks, and when the 5000mAh cell did run out, the 100W SuperVooc charging had it again to full in simply over half an hour. When you’re after a flagship cut price, we consider the OnePlus 12 comfortably undercuts each main big-screen rival.
6. Xiaomi 14 Extremely
The Xiaomi 14 Extremely is a knockout within the smartphone world, notably for pictures lovers. Sporting a sturdy quad-camera setup co-designed with Leica, this telephone enables you to seize photographs with a element and richness that rivals many conventional cameras. The variable aperture on the principle lens is particularly spectacular, permitting customers to regulate depth of discipline like a professional. We’re a fan of the optionally available Images Equipment too – it’s greater than a gimmick; it turns the telephone right into a handheld DSLR with bodily controls and even filter attachments. It’s dear, sure, but when pictures is a prime precedence, this accent is a should.
Past the digicam, the Xiaomi 14 Extremely holds its personal with a vibrant 6.73-inch show that melds the very best of flat and curved screens. Efficiency-wise, it’s all muscle, powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip and a strong cooling system that retains it working easily, even beneath heavy gaming. Battery life is respectable however doesn’t fairly match some rivals. We want it had squeezed in a bigger battery like its China-only sibling.
This telephone isn’t for everybody; if you happen to simply desire a strong, high-performing smartphone, you’ll discover extra inexpensive choices. But when pictures is your ardour, the Xiaomi 14 Extremely seems like a digicam disguised as a telephone – in all the very best methods. It’s a serious funding, however for us, it feels justified.
7. Sony Xperia 1 V
Sony’s top-spec smartphones aren’t for everybody. However if you happen to’re pleased to pay for the privilege, the Xperia 1 V is a phenomenally succesful Android handset. A flagship in all respects, it delivers distinctive efficiency, a cinematic 4K show and day-long battery life, all wrapped up in distinctively slick packaging.
Android puritans will probably be happy by its light-touch interface, however photographers are the true goal market: speedy burst capturing, expansive handbook choices and stellar picture high quality make it a win for critical snappers. In addition to a steady optical zoom lens, which helps you to get nearer to topics with out the necessity for digital trickery, it advantages from an all-new predominant sensor that fares higher in low gentle. Images followers with deep pockets gained’t be upset.
8. Nothing Cellphone 2
Nothing took all the things we favored in regards to the wallet-friendly Cellphone 1 and ramped it up slightly bit for the sequel – with out going into full-on flagship territory. Cellphone 2 is packing final 12 months’s flagship CPU consequently, however that’s nonetheless loads of efficiency for the money.
Enhancements have been made to just about each space: the display screen is bigger, with skinnier bezels; the battery is greater, lasts longer and prices quicker; the pair of 50MP rear cameras have uprated picture processing; and NothingOS 2.0 is as cohesive and full as any Android pores and skin we’ve used this 12 months. The Google Pixel 7 nonetheless edges it on the pictures entrance, however for sheer pocket presence Cellphone 2 is a real various.
8. Motorola Edge 30 Extremely
It’s been some time since Motorola was prime of the handset pack, however the brand new Motorola Edge 30 Extremely is an excellent smartphone that wins again loads of road cred for the Moto model. It’s acquired virtually all the things going for it, together with a premium construct, a really succesful digicam setup (together with a pixel-packed 200MP predominant digicam and 60MP selfie cam), together with insanely nippy 125W quick charging. Oh, and a punchy pOLED show with a super-slick 144Hz refresh price. Phew.
Our solely minor gripes are the shortage of a water-resistant construct and expandable storage. Zoom followers will even discover the 2x optical zoom missing. For everybody else although, that is a fully cracking handset, particularly for the worth. Effectively completed Moto.
9. OnePlus Open
Oneplus got here out of nowhere with the Open, bringing a implausible type issue, excellent snappers and a few of the finest software program to really benefit from the big inner display screen. That’s as a result of the telephone is badged as an Oppo Discover N3 elsewhere on this planet, with the mum or dad firm having examined the water with a number of foldable generations already.
It has nice battery life, quick wired charging, and a implausible design in addition. The actual fact that is cheaper than both Samsung or Google’s efforts makes it one thing of a smartphone slam dunk. This actually is the very best folding telephone you should purchase.
When you’re trying to economize you may learn Stuff’s information to the very best low-cost smartphones.
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