There’s one clear advantage Android has over iOS and that’s the variety of phones you can choose from. Apple made the iPhone the only game for iOS, but with Google’s operating system there are dozens of options from manufacturers like Samsung, Motorola, OnePlus and others. But that also means it can be difficult to decide which device is best for you when it’s time to upgrade or if you want to switch from iPhone to Android in the new year. If you’re looking for a new phone and don’t know where to start, we’ve got a selection of the best Android phones for every budget.
Editor’s Note (5/7/24): Google has announced the Pixel 8a, its latest mid-range smartphone. The 6.1-inch phone starts at $499 and, as expected, is based on last year’s flagship Pixel 8 series. We will publish a full review in the coming days and update this guide accordingly. For now, check out our hands-on preview for more information on what to expect. Google says it will continue to sell the Pixel 7a, our current budget Choose it at a discounted price to keep it worth it. However, most people should wait until we put the new Pixel through its paces.
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 processing power and AI), a nice display, solid design, sharp cameras, long battery life, and a significant commitment to ongoing software support. For performance, we not only look at benchmarks and other metrics, but we also rate phones based on their responsiveness. Whether you’re reading, texting, scrolling through social media, or playing a game, no one wants a device that feels sluggish.
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When it comes to displays, we generally prefer OLED panels that can produce rich, saturated colors with brightness of at least 600 nits, although many of our top mid-range and high-end phones can reach 1,000 nits or more. And recently, most of our favorite devices also support screens with fast refresh rates of 90Hz or 120Hz, providing an extra level of smoothness and fluidity.
design
Now we have to admit that it’s a little subjective when deciding which phone looks best, but there are also other design aspects like dust and water resistance or screen durability that can make a big difference to long-term survival. It’s also important to consider things like support for wireless charging, power sharing (also called reverse wireless charging), and UWB connectivity, which can affect how your phone interacts with your other devices.
Cameras
Of course, for photos we rely on sharp, colorful shots in both bright and low light 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 cameras should also have features like dedicated night modes, support for different video recording resolutions, and additional photo modes like time-lapse, slow-motion, and more.
Battery and software
Finally, when it comes to longevity, we’re aiming for all-day battery life on devices that also delivered great results in our local video rundown test (at least 16 hours on a charge, but more is obviously better). Wireless charging capabilities have become almost ubiquitous in recent years, and most of our top picks come with this added benefit. Fast charging is also available on some Android phones. Finally, as people keep their phones longer than ever, we want companies to commit to at least three years of software support, upgrades and regular security updates.
Photo by Sam Rutherford / Engadget
processor: Google Tensor G3 | Advertisement: 6.7 inch Super Actua, up to 120 Hz | Cameras: Rear array (50MP wide angle, 12MP ultra wide angle, 48MP telephoto lens), 10.5MP front camera | battery: 5,050mAh
Read our full review of the Google Pixel 8 Pro
Thanks to the Tensor G3 chip, updated sensors, and a host of new AI-powered features, the Google Pixel 8 and 8 Pro have even more to offer for both photography and everyday use. The new Magic Editor on Pixel phones makes it amazingly easy to remove distracting objects from your images, while the Audio Magic Eraser reduces distracting ambient noise in videos. And for all those group photos, Best Take makes sure everyone looks good, even if they weren’t smiling in the first shot. Additionally, Google’s call screen has gotten smarter, while Assistant features like the ability to summarize or read out real articles make it easy to stay up to date with news at your convenience. Add to that a more refined design, brighter displays, longer battery life and improved performance, and Google’s latest flagship phones could be the most versatile Android phones on the market.
$900 on Amazon
Photo by Sam Rutherford / Engadget
processor: Google Tensor G2 | Advertisement: 6.1 inch FHD+, up to 90 Hz | Cameras: Rear array (64MP wide, 13MP ultrawide), 13MP front camera | battery: 4,385mAh
Read our full review of the Google Pixel 7a
The $500 Pixel 7a offers everything we want in a great, affordable Android phone (if you’re looking to spend less money, check out our guide to the best cheap phones). New features include a faster Tensor G2 chip, a smoother 90Hz display and, for the first time on one of Google’s A-series phones: wireless charging support. And with a refreshed design with IP67 water resistance, it looks and feels like the standard Pixel 7 but costs $100 less. You also get great support with five years of security updates and at least three years of software updates. The Pixel 7a’s only flaws are fairly minor and include the lack of a dedicated zoom lens and lack of support for mmWave 5G (unless you buy a slightly more expensive $550 model from Verizon).
$440 on Amazon
Photo by Sam Rutherford / Engadget
processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 | Advertisement: 6.8 inch Dynamic AMOLED QHD+, up to 120 Hz | Cameras: Rear array (200 MP, Dual Pixel AF, 100x digital zoom, 50 MP macro, 12 MP UW), 12 MP front camera | battery: 5,000mAh
Read our full review of the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
For its latest super-premium phone, Samsung has given the S24 Ultra a more durable titanium frame, faster performance thanks to a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip, and significantly longer battery life. The company has also optimized its longest telephoto lens with a 5x optical zoom to make it more usable in a wider range of situations. The biggest upgrade, however, is a new full suite of AI tools that includes the ability to proofread text, edit images, and transcribe recordings. And when you take advantage of the best display on a phone today and a built-in stylus, you get a very compelling flagship phone. Unfortunately, with prices starting at $1,300, the S24 Ultra is a bit too expensive to recommend to someone who doesn’t have a lot of money.
$1,300 at Amazon
Photo by Sam Rutherford / Engadget
processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 | Advertisement: 6.2-inch HD+ front display (up to 120 Hz), 7.6-inch QXGA+ main display (up to 120 Hz) | Cameras: Rear array (50MP wide angle, 12MP ultra wide angle, 10MP telephoto), 10MP (coverage) + 4MP UDC (main) front camera | battery: 4,400mAh
Read our full Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 review
Despite increasing competition from the Pixel Fold, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 is still the best large foldable phone on the market for people looking to maximize their mobile productivity. In the latest model, Samsung has not only added two new gestures for launching side-by-side multitasking or switching from a full-screen to a windowed app, but also the number of recently used apps that you see in the taskbar can, increased from two to four. The Z Fold 5’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset also delivers faster performance than the Pixel Fold, and while this Samsung phone has a smaller battery (4,400mAh vs. 4,800mAh), it also has better battery life. The biggest change this generation, however, is Samsung’s new Flex Hinge, which allows the phone to close completely flat and also makes it thinner. Unfortunately, its camera system remains largely unchanged from last year, and with prices starting at $1,800, the Z Fold 5 isn’t anywhere near affordable.
$1,920 at Amazon