One of the best Android telephones for 2024

There’s one clear perk that Android has over iOS and that’s selection with regards to the telephones you must select from. Apple has made the iPhone is the one recreation on the town for iOS, however with Google’s working system, there are dozens of decisions on the market from producers like Samsung, Motorola, OnePlus and others. However that additionally means it may be tough to determine which system is greatest for you when it comes time to improve, or if you wish to swap from iPhone to Android within the new 12 months. In case you’re in search of a brand new telephone and don’t know the place to begin, we’ve received you coated with a number of the perfect Android telephones for each price range.

What to search for in a brand new Android telephone

Efficiency

Relating to selecting our favourite Android telephones, the primary issues we search for are fairly easy: good efficiency (each compute and AI), a pleasant show, strong design, sharp cameras, lengthy battery life and a big dedication to ongoing software program assist. For efficiency, not solely will we take a look at benchmarks and different metrics, however we additionally consider telephones primarily based on responsiveness. No matter whether or not you’re studying, textual content messaging, scrolling by means of social media or enjoying a recreation, nobody desires a gadget that feels sluggish.

Show

While the specs haven't changed much from last year, the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra's 6.8-inch 120Hz AMOLED display is still easily one of the best smartphone screens on the market. — Sam Rutherford/Engadget

Relating to shows, we typically favor OLED panels that may produce wealthy, saturated colours with a minimum of 600 nits of brightness, although a lot of our high mid-range and high-end telephones can hit 1,000 nits or extra. And extra not too long ago, most of our favourite units additionally assist screens with quick refresh charges of 90Hz or 120Hz, which provides an additional degree of smoothness and fluidity.

Design

Now we’ll admit there’s a little bit of subjectivity when deciding which telephones look the perfect, however there are different design facets like mud and water resistance or display sturdiness that may make an enormous distinction to long-term survival. It’s additionally essential to think about issues like assist for wi-fi charging, energy sharing (aka reverse wi-fi charging) and UWB connectivity, which might have an effect on how your telephone interacts together with your different units.

Cameras

Clearly, for photographs we’re in search of sharp, colourful photographs in each vibrant and low-light circumstances. And we would like video clips with excessive dynamic vary, wealthy audio and easy picture stabilization. Further cameras for ultra-wide and telephoto lenses are a plus. One of the best cameras also needs to embrace options like devoted night time modes, assist for numerous video recording resolutions, and extra picture modes like timelapse, sluggish movement and extra.

Battery and software program

Lastly, when it comes to longevity, we’re in search of all-day battery life on units that additionally delivered nice outcomes on our native video rundown check (a minimum of 16 hours on a cost, however extra is clearly higher). Wi-fi charging capabilities have turn out to be nearly ubiquitous over the previous few years, and most of our high picks have this additional perk. Quick-charging is accessible on some Android telephones, too. Lastly, with individuals holding onto their telephones longer than ever, we wish to see firms decide to a minimum of three years of software program assist, upgrades and common safety updates.

Google

Learn our full Google Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro XL review

Processor: Google Tensor G4 | Show: 6.3-inch Tremendous Actua, as much as 120Hz | Cameras: Rear array (50MP vast, 48MP ultrawide with Macro Focus, 48MP 5x telephoto lens), 42MP twin PD selfie entrance digicam with autofocus | Battery: 4,700mAh

Lastly, a smaller Pixel Professional. Google’s Pixel collection has lengthy been the most effective Android telephones round, with the Professional mannequin being the superior model. But it surely was all the time a little bit too huge and too cumbersome for these of us who’ve smaller fingers or need our telephones to slot in our pockets. Cue the Pixel 9 Pro, which is the littler model of the Pixel 9 Professional XL. As a substitute of a comparatively giant 6.8-inch display like that on its greater sibling, the usual Professional has a 6.3-inch show that’s simple to maneuver. No extra worrying about dropping your Pixel Professional simply since you fumbled whereas attempting to achieve the highest of the display!

Higher but, with the Pixel 9 Professional, Google hasn’t sacrificed any key function to get to the smaller measurement, that means you will discover the identical digicam setup and efficiency in each handsets. The one actual variations are the display measurement, battery and charging speeds, because the non-XL mannequin recharges at a barely slower price. However the Pixel 9 Professional can also be a lot longer-lasting than the XL, notching nearly 25 hours on our battery check.

These distinctions apart, the Pixel 9 Professional lineup is our favourite Android telephone due to its top-notch digicam efficiency, intriguing AI options and a normal grown-up vibe. Whereas earlier Pixel flagships had a colourful, blocky design that felt recent, this 12 months’s units really feel strong and refined. And, dare we are saying it, nearly like iPhones. With out the digicam bars, they might be fairly arduous to inform other than Apple’s telephones.

Probably as a result of it is grown up a lot over time, however the Pixel telephones now price the identical as iPhones. The Pixel 9 Professional and iPhone 15 Professional each begin at $999, and although a few of us have come to consider Google’s handsets because the extra competitively priced possibility, this 12 months’s mannequin may be ok to justify a premium value. In case you nonetheless need one thing from the Pixel 9 household however do not need to pay $1,000, the bottom Pixel 9 continues to be a strong handset for most individuals. However because it stands, the Pixel 9 Professional is the perfect Android handset cash can purchase. — Cherlynn Low, Deputy Editor

Professionals

Nice digicam options and improved telephoto digicam
A 12 months of Gemini Superior without spending a dime
Unimaginable battery life
A ravishing, vibrant display that’s simple to make use of outdoor
Tensor G4 runs cooler than its predecessor

Cons

Slower charging speeds than the XL
Not the perfect telephone for gaming

$999 at Google

Photograph by Sam Rutherford / Engadget

Learn our full Google Pixel 8a review

Processor: Google Tensor G3 | Show: 6.1-inch 1,080 x 2,400 OLED, as much as 120Hz | Cameras: Rear array (64MP vast, 13MP ultrawide), 13MP entrance digicam | Battery: 4,49mAh

Google’s A-series Pixels have lengthy been a few of the greatest midrange telephones in the marketplace. However now with the addition of a Tensor G3 chip, the Pixel 8a helps the identical highly effective and versatile AI capabilities you get on Google’s flagship telephones together with wonderful cameras, a beautiful 120Hz OLED show and nice battery life. The system additionally comes with creature comforts like IP67 mud and water resistance and handy (however sluggish) 7.5-watt Qi wi-fi charging. However most significantly, beginning at $499, it may be the most effective offers in the marketplace.

Professionals

Colourful 120Hz OLED show
Robust battery life
Glorious cameras
Nice worth

Cons

Sluggish wi-fi charging
Thick bezels

$499 at Amazon

Photograph by Sam Rutherford / Engadget

Learn our full Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra review

Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 | Show: 6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED QHD+, as much as 120Hz | Cameras: Rear array (200MP, Twin Pixel AF, Digital Zoom 100x, 50MP Macro, 12MP UW), 12MP entrance digicam | Battery: 5,000mAh

For its newest super-premium telephone, Samsung gave the S24 Ultra a extra sturdy titanium body, quicker efficiency due to a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip and a for much longer battery life. The corporate additionally tweaked its longest telephoto lens with a 5x optical zoom so it is extra usable in a wider vary of conditions. However the greatest improve is a brand new full suite of AI instruments, which incorporates the power to proofread texts, edit pictures and transcribe recordings. And once you tack on the perfect show obtainable on a telephone as we speak and a built-in stylus, you’ve a really compelling flagship handset. Sadly, beginning at $1,300, the S24 Extremely is a bit too costly to suggest to anybody with out deep pockets.

$46 at Samsung Electronics

Google

Learn our full Pixel 9 Pro Fold review

Processor: Google Tensor G4 | Show: 8-inch Tremendous Actua Flex LTPO full show, 6.3-inch Actua cowl show | Cameras: Rear array (48MP vast, 10.5MP ultrawide, 10.8MP telephoto), 10MP entrance digicam | Battery: 4,650mAh

The small however mighty enhancements Google dropped at its second-gen foldable have pushed it to the entrance of the pack. The Pixel 9 Pro Fold turns the considerably unfinished unique Pixel Fold right into a strong handset prepared for prime time. Google refined its design to have a facet ratio that mimics the usual Pixel 9 smartphones, with a well-recognized 6.3-inch, 20:9 exterior show, that’s each simpler to make use of and maintain. The interior show has a extra sq. side ratio as nicely with a bit extra display actual property than earlier than. The handset total has a extra premium really feel and positively a extra polished look due to its matte again and satin steel body.

Together with strong efficiency (and battery life) and an upgraded design to match, the Pixel 9 Professional Fold nonetheless has the perfect cameras out of any foldable handset we’ve tried, regardless of not having any {hardware} upgrades from the unique model. Plus, Google’s AI picture modifying instruments like Magic Editor offer you extra management over your photographs, and Pixel-only software program like Made You Look make Google’s handset a extra compelling foldable. — Valentina Palladino, Deputy Editor

Professionals