If you're on the hunt for the best Android phone, you're diving into a wide world of options that go well beyond just iPhone alternatives. The Android market is a playground for innovation, offering everything from folding behemoths that blur the line between smartphone and tablet, like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6, to devices that go all-in on gaming performance and features, complete with extra buttons and air-cooled components. The new Galaxy S25 lineup, already available to order, is just one example of the compelling options out there. And the best part? Quite a few of these phones offer great value, so you don't have to spend upwards of $1,000 to get a fantastic device.
TL;DR – These Are the Best Android Phones:
Our top pick### Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
0See it at Amazon
### Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6
0See it at Amazon
### Poco X5 5G
0See it at Amazon
### RedMagic 10 Pro
0See it at AmazonSee it at RedMagic
### Google Pixel 8
1See it at AmazonI've personally been using Android phones since 2012, when I picked up what was both my first Android phone and first (and not my last) 3D phone. Since then, I've used and tested a wide range of Android devices, from budget-friendly options to the first 5G phones, gaming phones with unique features, and various folding, flipping, and twisting models. I've gone hands-on with the best from Samsung and Google, as well as lesser-known alternatives that keep pace or even surpass them. My colleagues and I have extensive experience with these devices, ensuring we can guide you to the perfect Android phone for your needs.
What you'll find here are not just the best Android phones but some of the best smartphones overall. Whether you're looking for top-of-the-line features and quality or a budget-friendly option that punches above its weight, we've got you covered. And if nothing quite fits the bill, be sure to check back often; the Android market moves fast, so you won't have to wait a year to see what the next round of devices offers, unlike iPhone users.
Contributions by Jackie Thomas, Danielle Abraham, and Georgie Peru.
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
Best Android Smartphone
Our top pick### Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
0Enjoy a massive 6.8-inch AMOLED screen on a phone packing a processor with enough power to run multiple apps, edit videos, game, and power the stunning cameras. See it at AmazonProduct SpecificationsScreen size6.8 inchesRear cameras4Front cameras1ProcessorQualcomm Snapdragon 8 (third generation)Battery life5,000mAhStorage256GB, 512GB, 1TBStarting price$1,299.99PROSIncredible performanceExceptional camera systemCONSTitanium makes the device big and heavySince Samsung started appending Ultra onto its products, these models have been the peak of the brand’s capabilities and design. After our Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra review, we decided it's worthy of the top spot in 2024. This phone brings so much to the table, making it the best Android phone out there.
Let’s start with the display: You’ll find a 6.8-inch 1440p AMOLED display with high brightness, extreme contrast, and fluid motion thanks to a variable refresh rate that goes up to 120Hz. The S24 Ultra also carries over S Pen support for precise input when a fingertip just won’t do. Samsung covers this in a new blend of Gorilla Glass designed to be among the strongest out there and wraps the phone in a titanium frame, ensuring water and dust resistance.
Inside, you get a top-of-the-line Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC, ready to run the latest apps, power through top-tier games with maxed-out settings, and keep the phone running smoothly for years. And you can count on long-term support, with Samsung providing seven years of operating system updates, matching Google’s promise for its latest Pixel phones.
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra – Photos
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Samsung also piles in the cameras – five lenses total – for the Galaxy S24 Ultra. The main sensor is a 200-Megapixel shooter capable of incredible detail. When you want to capture more of a scene, there’s a 12MP ultra-wide camera. And you can zoom in on subjects to the extreme with both a 3x and 5x lens.
You can put all of this to task with AI tools as well. Samsung has a suite of features, letting you search for objects in photos or edit and adjust your photos with AI.
With top-tier performance, an exceptional design, travel-worthy cameras, and software support that makes it possible to run this phone for the long haul, the Galaxy S24 Ultra brings more to the table than pretty much any other Android phone. Until another phone is ready to challenge Samsung on all counts, the S24 Ultra stands at number one.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6
Best Foldable Android Phone
### Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6
0The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 is an incredibly fast and gorgeous smartphone, held back only by its unusual aspect ratio when unfolded. See it at AmazonProduct SpecificationsScreen7.6-inch 2160 x 1856 AMOLED (Main); 6.2-inch 968 x 2376 AMOLED (Cover)ProcessorQualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3Camera50MP Wide, 12MP Ultra Wide, 10MP frontBattery4400mAhWeight239g (0.52 lb)PROSStunning displays, inside and outExtremely powerfulCONSAspect ratios can be weirdLarge and in charge, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 we reviewed is a beast of a phone with dual natures. Folded up, it offers a tall but thin 6.2-inch display. Flipped open, it provides a 7.6-inch screen with a 4:3 aspect ratio, allowing you to go from smartphone to tablet in a flash. Both displays use AMOLED panels, delivering vibrant colors and deep contrast.
With the productivity capabilities of the Galaxy Z Fold 6, Samsung didn’t hold back on performance. This phone packs the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, offering a significant step up in performance over its predecessor (as much as 22% in our testing). Whether you’re multitasking with a split-screen setup, running the phone like a desktop using DeX, or enjoying the latest games like Wuthering Waves or Zenless Zone Zero, the Z Fold 6 has the performance to keep up.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 – Photos
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The Z Fold 6 is no slouch in the camera department either. It offers a 50MP main shooter, an ultra-wide sensor, and a zoom lens with 5x optical magnification and the ability to go up to a 30x digital zoom. Like the S24 Ultra, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 can also tap into Samsung’s AI tools to edit photos. And if you grab an S Pen, you can get similarly fine editing capabilities on the Z Fold 6’s internal display.
The range of capabilities of the Z Fold 6 makes it a standout for the best folding Android phone. Though don’t forget: Samsung also offers a smaller option in the Z Flip 6 we also reviewed, which may make some trade-offs on camera and multitasking abilities for a more compact design.
You can also check out our list of the best Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 cases if you opt for this Android phone.
Poco X5 5G
Best Budget Android Phone
### Poco X5 5G
0An ultra-affordable phone offering 5G, smooth performance, and a crisp display, though its cameras and gaming performance are modest. See it at AmazonProduct SpecificationsScreen6.8-inch OLED, 1116x2480, 400 ppi, 120Hz refresh rateProcessorSnapdragon 8 Gen 3 Leading VersionCamera50-Megapixel Wide, 50-Megapixel Ultrawide, 16-Megapixel SeflieBattery6,500mAhWeight229g (0.5lb)PROSBrilliant display for gaming and entertainmentExcellent sustained gaming performanceStylish designCONSShorter software supportUnderwhelming camera systemPoco is no stranger to budget smartphones, and it’s always surprising to see how much the company manages to pack into its devices while keeping costs down. The Poco X5 5G I personally reviewed was a killer bargain when it launched in 2023 for about $220, and it’s still a surprisingly good value at its current price.
The star of the Poco X5 5G is its display. While other brands might settle for basic LCD displays on their budget phones, Poco fitted the X5 5G with a 6.67-inch AMOLED display offering a crisp 1080x2400 resolution and 120Hz refresh rate. This means you get excellent contrast and color for all sorts of content and smooth visuals for games on a reasonably large screen.
Inside, a Snapdragon 695G SoC drives the performance of the X5 5G. While not the fastest, it's a worthy performer for its price, capable of running Genshin Impact at medium settings smoothly. Its large 5000mAh battery also helps it last for hours. Even with the screen brightness maxed out, it was ready to stream Netflix for nearly 20 hours.
Poco X5 5G – Photos
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The Poco X5 5G also comes with unique features like an IR blaster on the top edge, allowing it to serve as a universal remote control, and a 3.5mm headphone jack.
Naturally, there are some downsides to budget devices. The Poco X5 5G is unlikely to get long-term software support, having launched with Android 12 and since updated to Android 14. It also has underwhelming cameras. But if you need a device with a good screen and sufficient performance for content enjoyment, web navigation, and staying in touch, the Poco X5 5G delivers.
RedMagic 10 Pro
Best Gaming Android Phone
### RedMagic 10 Pro
0The RedMagic 10 Pro combines exceptional performance with extreme sustain in a wonderful package. See it at AmazonSee it at RedMagicProduct SpecificationsScreen6.85-inch OLED, 1216x2688, 431 ppi, 144Hz refresh rateProcessorSnapdragon 8 EliteCamera50-Megapixel Wide, 50-Megapixel Ultrawide, 2-Megapixel Macro, 16-Megapixel SeflieBattery7,050mAhWeight229g (0.5lb)PROSExcellent gaming performanceGreat displayCONSUnderwhelming camerasShorter software supportThere are plenty of phones that are more well-rounded, but in my review, I found that the RedMagic 10 Pro really sets itself apart for superb gaming performance. It's equipped with the new Snapdragon 8 Elite chip, a beast of a processor. Additionally, RedMagic actively cools the chip to ensure better sustain than most phones, which typically rely on passive cooling. This means more stable frame rates even during long gaming sessions at max settings, allowing you to ignore those warnings about high settings.
The RedMagic 10 Pro also provides a great piece of hardware to game on. Its 6.85-inch display is large and looks fantastic, using a bright AMOLED panel that's sharp and fast at 144Hz. The selfie camera is completely hidden away underneath the screen, providing an uninterrupted view of your games. The phone includes two capacitive shoulder buttons, giving you more control over your games by setting them up for in-game actions. In an FPS, that means moving, aiming, and shooting all at the same time, which can be a huge advantage. Plus, the touchscreen has an enhanced polling rate, ensuring prompt input registration.
The RedMagic 10 Pro doesn’t have the most impressive cameras compared to its competitors, and it doesn’t get as many software updates as Samsung, Google, or OnePlus. But it offers a truly powerful package at an impressive price, starting at just $649. With the savings, you can invest in a quality mobile phone controller and give even the Steam Deck a run for its money.
Google Pixel 8
Best Midrange Android Phone
### Google Pixel 8
1Running on a G3 Tensor chip, you’ll enjoy solid cameras, smart AI functions, and a bright, beautiful OLED display for an affordable price. See it at AmazonProduct SpecificationsScreen6.2-inch OLED, 1080x2400, 428 ppi, 120Hz refresh rateProcessorTensor G3 Camera50-megapixel wide, 12-megapixel ultrawide, 10.5-megapixel selfieBattery4,575 mAhWeight187g (0.41lb)PROSWonderfully responsive screenSeven years of updates and OS supportImpressive cameraCONSRAM upgrade reserved for Pro modelYep – we know the Pixel 8 isn’t the latest, but it's still a great phone. Being a year older means it's now available at a much lower price than its initial launch. There’s little reason to consider the Pixel 8a when you can get the real McCoy for just $100 more.
Google brought some great upgrades with the Pixel 8, including the new Tensor G3 SoC, which runs faster and cooler than its predecessor. Google also made the phone slightly smaller, making it more pocket-friendly and easier to use with one hand. It's a great little phone.
The 6.2-inch display is impressive. Despite its size, it offers a smooth 120Hz refresh rate and boasts a 2,000-nit peak brightness. Games, movies, and other content look fantastic on the display, which is complemented by decent stereo speakers.
Perhaps the key feature making the Pixel 8 an exceptional value is its seven years of updates to the operating system, security patches, and features. It may not get every new feature Google launches in the future, but it will at least not be left with the security vulnerabilities that can plague outdated devices.
A key highlight of the Pixel 8 is its camera system. It offers an excellent main sensor that performs well in low light and makes the most of quality lighting by providing sharp, richly colored photos. The ultra-wide isn’t as impressive, but it has a very wide field-of-view, allowing you to capture a lot in one shot. Getting great cameras on a phone for $500 is a pretty good deal, especially with a solid ultra-wide lens.
What to Look for in an Android Phone
Making the final decision on a phone purchase is not easy, so we've helped narrow down what to look for.
Storage space on phones is crucial. If you plan to film videos, play games, or download lots of music, only a few phones come with a Micro SD slot to expand storage. This means you'll have to spend more for more storage, and that's if the phone offers it. Some of our picks have up to 1TB of storage, which should suit most people. Of course, you can always store files on cloud services to free up space on your phone.
RAM is crucial to a phone’s operating system. Having more RAM means you can run more applications at the same time. For standard operation, 4GB RAM is enough, but additional RAM is necessary for heavy gaming and app use. All of our picks have at least 6GB of RAM, ensuring smooth gaming and multitasking.
Finally, the phone’s processor is essential for smooth operation. The number of cores and clock speed generally determine how quickly a phone can run processes and functions. Snapdragon processors are commonly used in Android phones. All of our picks use them, except for the Google Pixel devices, which use Google’s Tensor chips. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 and Tensor G4 are currently the best processors available.
Best Android Phones FAQ
What is the difference between an Android phone and a smartphone?
Android phones are just a type of smartphone. Ever since the iPhone started the 'smartphone' trend back in 2007, Google has been competing with its own smartphone OS, Android. An Android phone is simply a smartphone that runs Google's Android operating system, and with a few exceptions, anything that runs Android is also a smartphone.
