Skip to content 
Selecting the ideal Android phone can be daunting due to the plethora of choices across various brands. In contrast to Apple’s consistent iPhone lineup, Android offers a diverse array. Whether you’re considering the newest flagship from Samsung, an economical smartphone from Motorola, or something with a unique foldable design, there’s an Android option tailored to your needs.
The allure of Android lies in its versatility. You’ll find phones with a range of screen sizes, camera configurations, battery life, and interesting features like stylus support or robust design. Additionally, Android allows extensive customization–an aspect that Apple enthusiasts might find appealing. We have evaluated and researched the leading Android phones to assist you in finding the one that aligns with your budget, lifestyle, and technology preferences.
What to consider when purchasing a new Android phone
Performance
In selecting our preferred Android phones, we focus on essential factors: optimal performance (for both computation and AI), a high-quality display, durable design, excellent cameras, extended battery life, and a robust commitment to software updates. For performance, we analyze benchmarks and metrics along with overall responsiveness. Whether you’re reading, messaging, browsing social media, or gaming, an efficient, quick device is essential.
Display
Concerning displays, our preference is generally for OLED panels that can display vibrant, saturated colors with a brightness of at least 600 nits, although many of the top mid-range and premium phones reach 1,000 nits or more. Lately, most of our favorite devices also offer screens with high refresh rates of 90Hz or 120Hz, enhancing smoothness and fluidity.
Design
Admittedly, determining which phones look the best involves some subjectivity, but other design attributes like dust and water resistance or screen durability can significantly impact longevity. It’s also important to assess support for wireless charging, power sharing (reverse wireless charging), and UWB connectivity, which can influence how your phone interacts with other gadgets.
Cameras
For photography, we prioritize sharp, colorful images in both bright and low-light environments and video footage with high dynamic range, quality sound, and stable image capturing. Additional cameras for ultra-wide and telephoto lenses are advantageous. The best cameras should offer features like dedicated night modes, support for various video recording resolutions, and further photo modes like timelapse and slow motion.
Battery and Software
Regarding endurance, we seek all-day battery life on devices that also perform well on local video rundown tests (at least 16 hours on a single charge, but more is preferable). Wireless charging capabilities have become commonplace over recent years, and most top choices include this feature. Some Android phones also offer fast-charging. Finally, considering people are retaining their phones for longer periods, we appreciate seeing companies commit to a minimum of three years of software support, upgrades, and regular security updates.
Read our full Google Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro XL review
Processor: Google Tensor G4 |
Display: 6.3-inch Super Actua, up to 120Hz |
Cameras: Rear array (50MP wide, 48MP ultrawide with Macro Focus, 48MP 5x telephoto lens), 42MP dual PD selfie front camera with autofocus |
Battery: 4,700mAh
Finally, a smaller Pixel Pro. Google’s Pixel series has long been a favored choice among Android phones, with the Pro model being the superior edition. However, its substantial size often proved cumbersome for individuals with smaller hands or those wishing to carry their phones in their pockets. Enter the Pixel 9 Pro, the more compact variant of the Pixel 9 Pro XL. The standard Pro features a 6.3-inch screen that is easily maneuverable compared to the XL’s larger 6.8-inch display.
What’s better is that with the Pixel 9 Pro, Google hasn’t cut any essential features to achieve the more compact size, maintaining the same camera setup and performance in both models. The differences between the models are primarily in screen size, battery, and charging speed, where the non-XL recharges slightly slower. However, the Pixel 9 Pro boasts significantly longer battery life, clocking almost 25 hours on our battery test.
These distinctions aside, the Pixel 9 Pro lineup remains our favored Android phones due to exceptional camera performance, captivating AI features, and an overall refined vibe. While previous Pixel flagships had a colorful, quirky design, this year’s models feel solid and polished. Without the camera bars, they could easily be mistaken for iPhones.
Possibly due to its maturity over the years, but Pixel phones now share a price point with iPhones. The Pixel 9 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro both begin at $999, and although some of us have perceived Google’s handsets as the more economically viable option, this year’s model might be impressive enough to justify a premium price. If you want a member of the Pixel 9 family, but for less than $1,000, the base Pixel 9 is still a reliable choice for most customers. As it stands, the Pixel 9 Pro is the premium Android device available. — Cherlynn Low, Deputy Editor
Pros
- Excellent camera features and upgraded telephoto camera
- A year of complimentary Gemini Advanced
- Impressive battery life
- A delightful, bright screen that performs well outdoors
- Tensor G4 runs cooler compared to its predecessor
Cons
- Slower charging speeds than the XL
- Not optimal for gaming
