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Unlike the iOS ecosystem, where Apple is the only game in town, one of the best things about the Android phone market is the wide range of different devices and manufacturers to choose from. However, when it’s really time to upgrade, this wealth of options can make choosing the right phone for you that much more difficult. If you’re looking for a new phone and don’t know where to start, we’ve got you covered with our selection of the best Android phones for every budget.
What are you looking for in a new Android phone
performance
When it comes to picking our favorite Android phones, the main things we look for are pretty obvious: good performance (both computing and AI), a great screen, a solid design, sharp cameras, long battery life, and a great commitment to ongoing software support. For performance, we don’t just look at benchmarks and other metrics, we also rate phones based on responsiveness. No matter if you’re reading, browsing social media, or playing a game, no one wants a device that feels sluggish.
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Sam Rutherford/Engadget
When it comes to displays, we generally prefer OLED panels that can produce rich, saturated colors with a brightness of at least 600 nits, although many of our mid-range and high-end phones can hit 1,000 nits or more. And recently, most of our favorite devices also support displays with fast refresh rates of 90Hz or 120Hz, which adds an extra level of smoothness and fluidity.
design
Now we’ll admit there’s a bit of subjectivity when deciding which phones are the best, but there are other design aspects like dust and water resistance or screen durability that can make a huge difference in long-term survival. It’s also important to consider things like support for wireless charging, power sharing (aka reverse wireless charging), and UWB connectivity, which can have an impact on how your phone interacts with your other devices.
cameras
Sam Rutherford/Engadget
Obviously, for photos, we’re looking for shots that are sharp and colorful in both bright and low light conditions. And we want high dynamic range videos, rich sound, and smooth image stabilization. The extra cameras for the ultra-wide and zoom lenses are a plus. It’s also important to consider features like custom night modes, support for different video recording resolutions, and additional photo modes like time-lapse, slow motion, and more.
battery and software
Finally, in terms of battery life, we’re looking for all-day longevity on devices that also delivered great results in our domestic video test (at least 16 hours on a charge, but more is clearly better). And with people keeping their phones longer than ever, we’d like to see companies commit to at least three years of software support and regular security patches.
Best Android phone overall: Google Pixel 7 Pro
the Pixel 7 Pro and standard Pixel 7 They may not be the absolute fastest phones on the market, but what they lack in pure performance they make up for with thoughtful software. Powered by Google’s Tensor G2 chip, the Pixel 7 series features powerful AI and machine learning capabilities that support things like on-device language recognition and real-time translation. You also get gorgeous OLED screens and the best overall camera quality of any smartphone available today. And with the standard Pixel 7 starting at just $600, Google’s latest flagship is an amazing value, too. The main differences between the two is that the Pixel 7 Pro has a larger 6.7-inch screen and features a third rear camera with 5x optical zoom. But regardless of whether you prefer a smaller or larger device, you can’t go wrong with the Pixel 7 or Pixel 7 Pro.
Best mid-range Android phone: OnePlus 11
For those who want a phone with a big screen, powerful cameras, and great performance, but at a lower price than a traditional flagship phone, the OnePlus 11 It strikes a good balance between budget phones and premium devices. In many ways, the OnePlus 11 is similar to the more affordable Galaxy S23+. Not only do you get a similar 6.7-inch 120Hz screen, but it also boasts a speedy Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip and a large 5,000mAh battery. Meanwhile, thanks to OnePlus’ 100W wired charging, it powers up faster than any phone from Google or Samsung. And on the camera side, the company’s ongoing partnership with Hasselblad has resulted in remarkable improvements in image quality.
The OP11’s main shortcomings are that its IP64 dust and water resistance rating falls short of what you’d get from competing devices, and the camera’s 2x optical zoom lens feels a bit on the short side. But with OnePlus adding broader carrier compatibility and a commitment of four years of OS upgrades and five years of security patches, the OP11 is a well-equipped option that costs significantly less than its competitors.
Best Android phone: Google Pixel 6a
If you just want a simple phone at a good price, this is the one Pixel 6a phone It cannot be defeated. Starting at just $449, you get a vibrant 6.1-inch OLED and Tensor chip from Google along with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. But the thing that sets the Pixel 6a apart from other budget phones is its cameras, which, thanks to Google’s superior image processing, produce clearer and more accurate images than competitors twice its price. Meanwhile, Google’s commitment to software updates means you must get at least three years of operating system support and five years of security patches. And with all of the Pixel’s software features like Call Screener, Hold For Me, and the Pixel Recorder app, you get an affordable device with plenty of smart hardware.
Best Android phone: Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
starting at $1,200, Galaxy S23 Ultra It’s quite expensive, but it has practically everything you could want or need in a smartphone. It has a massive 6.8-inch OLED display with a 120Hz adaptive refresh rate, a total of five cameras (main, ultra-wide, 3x zoom, 10x zoom, and selfie camera) and a built-in S Pen for drawing and note-taking. It also features a massive 5,000mAh battery that delivers some of the longest runtime we’ve seen on any phone. And with Samsung’s renewed commitment to software support, you can expect a minimum of four major OS upgrades and five years of regular security patches.
Best foldable Android phone: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4
While the Galaxy Z Flip 4 is arguably the most stylish and compact phone on the market, it’s also bigger and more expensive Z fold 4 It’s like three devices in one, which makes it the unicorn among mobile devices. When you just need to reply to a text or quickly look up an address, the Cover’s 6.2-inch screen makes that a cinch. But when you want to sit down to watch a movie or play a game, you can open the fold to reveal a stunning 7.8-inch flexible screen. It’s compact when you need it, while providing an immersive viewing experience when you don’t. And with stylus input support, you can even use one of Samsung’s specially designed folding S Pens to quickly scribble or jot down a note. On top of all that, the OLED display makes the Z Fold 4 great for reading books and comics. And unlike anything other than Samsung’s foldable, the fold also has an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance. In many ways, this thing is the Swiss army knife of phones. Sure, it’s a bit bulky, and at $1,800 it’s not what anyone would call affordable. But its ability to act as a phone, tablet, e-reader, and more depending on the situation puts the Z Fold 4 in a class of its own.
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