There’s one clear perk that Android has over iOS and that’s selection in terms of the telephones it’s a must to select from. Apple has made the iPhone is the one sport on the town for iOS, however with Google’s working system, there are dozens of selections on the market from producers like Samsung, Motorola, OnePlus and others. However that additionally means it may be tough to determine which system is finest for you when it comes time to improve, or if you wish to change from iPhone to Android within the new 12 months. If you happen to’re in search of a brand new cellphone and don’t know the place to start out, we’ve obtained you coated with a choice of the very best Android telephones for each finances.
What to search for in a brand new Android cellphone
Efficiency
In relation to selecting our favourite Android telephones, the principle issues we search for are fairly easy: good efficiency (each compute and AI), a pleasant show, stable design, sharp cameras, lengthy battery life and a major dedication to ongoing software program help. For efficiency, not solely will we have a look at benchmarks and different metrics, however we additionally consider telephones based mostly on responsiveness. No matter whether or not you’re studying, textual content messaging, scrolling by means of social media or taking part in a sport, nobody desires a gadget that feels sluggish.
Show
In relation to shows, we typically want OLED panels that may produce wealthy, saturated colours with at the very least 600 nits of brightness, although lots of our high mid-range and high-end telephones can hit 1,000 nits or extra. And extra lately, most of our favourite units additionally help screens with quick refresh charges of 90Hz or 120Hz, which provides an additional stage of smoothness and fluidity.
Design
Now we’ll admit there’s a little bit of subjectivity when deciding which telephones look the very best, however there are different design elements like mud and water resistance or display screen sturdiness that may make an enormous distinction to long-term survival. It’s additionally vital to contemplate issues like help for wi-fi charging, energy sharing (aka reverse wi-fi charging) and UWB connectivity, which might have an effect on how your cellphone interacts along with your different units.
Cameras
Clearly, for images we’re in search of sharp, colourful pictures in each vibrant and low-light circumstances. And we wish video clips with excessive dynamic vary, wealthy audio and easy picture stabilization. Further cameras for ultra-wide and telephoto lenses are a plus. The perfect cameras must also embrace options like devoted night time modes, help for varied video recording resolutions, and extra picture modes like timelapse, sluggish movement and extra.
Battery and software program
Lastly, by way of longevity, we’re in search of all-day battery life on units that additionally delivered nice outcomes on our native video rundown take a look at (at the very least 16 hours on a cost, however extra is clearly higher). Wi-fi charging capabilities have grow 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 folks holding onto their telephones longer than ever, we wish to see firms decide to at the very least three years of software program help, upgrades and common safety updates.
Learn our full Google Pixel 9 Professional and Pixel 9 Professional XL assessment
Processor: Google Tensor G4 | Show: 6.3-inch Tremendous Actua, as much as 120Hz | Cameras: Rear array (50MP huge, 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 sequence has lengthy been top-of-the-line Android telephones round, with the Professional mannequin being the superior model. However it was all the time somewhat too large and too cumbersome for these of us who’ve smaller palms or need our telephones to slot in our pockets. Cue the Pixel 9 Professional, which is the littler model of the Pixel 9 Professional XL. As an alternative of a comparatively giant 6.8-inch display screen 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 making an attempt to achieve the highest of the display screen!
Higher but, with the Pixel 9 Professional, Google hasn’t sacrificed any key characteristic to get to the smaller measurement, which means you will discover the identical digicam setup and efficiency in each handsets. The one actual variations are the display screen measurement, battery and charging speeds, because the non-XL mannequin recharges at a barely slower charge. However the Pixel 9 Professional can be a lot longer-lasting than the XL, notching nearly 25 hours on our battery take a look at.
These distinctions apart, the Pixel 9 Professional lineup is our favourite Android cellphone 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 stable and refined. And, dare we are saying it, nearly like iPhones. With out the digicam bars, they might be fairly exhausting to inform aside from 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 think about Google’s handsets because the extra competitively priced possibility, this 12 months’s mannequin is perhaps ok to justify a premium worth. If you happen to nonetheless need one thing from the Pixel 9 household however do not need to pay $1,000, the bottom Pixel 9 remains to be a stable handset for most individuals. However because it stands, the Pixel 9 Professional is the very best Android handset cash can purchase. — Cherlynn Low, Deputy Editor, Evaluations
- Nice digicam options and improved telephoto digicam
- A 12 months of Gemini Superior at no cost
- Unbelievable battery life
- A ravishing, vibrant display screen that’s simple to make use of outdoor
- Tensor G4 runs cooler than its predecessor
- Slower charging speeds than the XL
- Not the very best cellphone for gaming
Photograph by Sam Rutherford / Engadget
Learn our full Google Pixel 8a assessment
Processor: Google Tensor G3 | Show: 6.1-inch 1,080 x 2,400 OLED, as much as 120Hz | Cameras: Rear array (64MP huge, 13MP ultrawide), 13MP entrance digicam | Battery: 4,49mAh
Google’s A-series Pixels have lengthy been a number of the finest 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 glorious cameras, a stunning 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 is perhaps top-of-the-line offers in the marketplace.
- Colourful 120Hz OLED show
- Robust battery life
- Wonderful cameras
- Nice worth
- Gradual wi-fi charging
- Thick bezels
Photograph by Sam Rutherford / Engadget
Learn our full Samsung Galaxy S24 Extremely assessment
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 cellphone, Samsung gave the S24 Extremely a extra sturdy titanium body, sooner efficiency because of 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 photographs and transcribe recordings. And while you tack on the very best show accessible on a cellphone in the present day 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.
Photograph by Sam Rutherford/Engadget
Learn our full Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 assessment
Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 | Show: 7.6-inch QXGA+ full show, 6.3-inch HD+ cowl show | Cameras: Rear array (50MP huge, 12MP ultrawide, 10dMP telephoto), 10MP (Cowl) + 4MP UDC (Important) entrance digicam | Battery: 4,400mAh
Whereas we might have preferred to see some extra drastic design adjustments, Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 6 stays one of the crucial versatile and well-rounded examples of an enormous, premium foldable cellphone. Its new Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip delivers sturdy efficiency and improved power effectivity whereas its Enhanced Armor Aluminum chassis is noticeably lighter than earlier than (and a bit extra sturdy too). There’s additionally a brand new ultra-wide angle digicam sensor and a boatload of AI-powered options scattered all through the cellphone. Plus, the Z Fold 6 stays one of many few foldables with native stylus help, although you’ll must pay additional for considered one of Samsung’s S Pens. Maybe the largest draw back is that Samsung’s newest flagship now prices $100 greater than its predecessor.
- Tremendous vibrant and colourful show
- Even lighter chassis
- Nice battery life
- Native stylus help
- Much more costly than earlier than
- Identical essential digicam because the earlier two Z Folds
- S Pen not included
- Charging speeds could possibly be sooner
