The perfect Android telephones to purchase in 2024

The Android ecosystem is all about alternative. Whereas iPhone house owners have a smaller pool of recent units to select from when it’s time to improve, there’s a a lot wider vary of selections on Android. You need unimaginable digital camera zoom? A built-in stylus? A telephone that runs an entire desktop setting once you plug it right into a monitor? You’ll find it on Android. Heck, you’ll find all of that in a single gadget.

On the flip aspect, all that alternative could make for some onerous choices. Right here’s the place I’d like to assist; I’ve examined an entire boatload of latest Android telephones, and I feel there are some actual winners within the present batch. It’s all a matter of what you’re in search of, what you’re comfy spending, and what your definition of a “reasonably sized phone” is. (I’ve my very own, personally.)

As you sift by way of the choices, you’ll nearly actually come throughout tech’s favourite buzzphrase of the yr: AI. Usually talking, AI has but to essentially impress me on a telephone. The Pixel 9 sequence has some probably helpful options, like a brand new Screenshots app that makes use of AI to tag related data in metadata, and Galaxy units can translate a telephone name for you in actual time. This stuff are nothing to sneeze at! However none of it feels just like the platform shift that the massive tech firms hold promising. Greatest to not put an excessive amount of inventory in any firm’s AI claims simply but.

When you dwell within the US, I’ve some unhealthy information concerning the Android market, although. For sophisticated causes having to do with “capitalism” and “geopolitics,” we don’t get practically as most of the choices as you’ll discover in Asia and Europe — manufacturers like Huawei, Xiaomi, Honor, and Oppo simply aren’t obtainable right here. I’ve restricted this information to the units I’ve personally examined in depth; thus, it’s a pretty US-centric set of suggestions. 

With that in thoughts, it’s additionally value acknowledging that most individuals within the US get their telephones “for free” from their wi-fi service. When you can handle it, shopping for a telephone unlocked will provide you with essentially the most flexibility and freedom if you find yourself wanting to vary carriers within the close to future. Telephone producers additionally supply financing and trade-in offers to make cost extra manageable. However in the event you’re completely happy together with your service and the free telephone on supply is the one you actually need, by all means, take the free telephone. Simply be sure you perceive the phrases, particularly if it is advisable change plans to money in on the deal. 

Nevertheless you go about it, you could have some incredible choices in your subsequent Android telephone.

Display screen: 6.3-inch 1080p 120Hz OLED / Processor: Tensor G4 / Cameras: 50-megapixel f/1.7 principal with OIS, 48-megapixel ultrawide, 10.5-megapixel selfie / Battery: 4,700mAh / Charging: 27W wired, 15W wi-fi (with Pixel Stand 2) / Climate resistance: IP68

Google’s {hardware} is healthier than ever, and the entire Pixel 9 lineup feels simply as polished as something you’d get from Samsung or Apple. However at $799, the essential Pixel 9 is in a very interesting place, and in the event you don’t want a telephoto digital camera or the most important display screen, then that is the Android telephone to get.

The Pixel 9 comes with some vital quality-of-life enhancements like a quicker fingerprint scanner for unlocking the telephone. The digital camera is as dependable as ever, and in the event you’re into AI picture enhancing tips, boy does this telephone have ‘em. There’s a brand new Screenshots app that acts as a spot to retailer all the info that will in any other case be misplaced at sea in your digital camera roll, and it makes use of AI to parse info out and make it searchable. Kinda helpful.

Even with out AI, this is a superb telephone. It’s additionally designed to go the space, with seven years of promised OS updates, which very possible means you’ll outgrow the telephone earlier than Google stops supporting it. Its potential for long-term worth and the standard of the {hardware} make it a straightforward suggestion for anybody who simply needs a pleasant Android telephone that works.

Learn my full Google Pixel 9 overview.

Display screen: 6.8-inch 1440p 120Hz OLED / Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 / Cameras: 200-megapixel principal with OIS, 50-megapixel 5x telephoto with OIS, 10-megapixel 3x telephoto with OIS, 12-megapixel ultrawide, 12-megapixel selfie / Battery: 5,000mAh / Charging: 45W wired, 15W wi-fi / Climate resistance: IP68

The Samsung Galaxy S24 Extremely says all of it within the title: Extremely. It has the whole lot you might ask for in a telephone — effectively, not less than one which doesn’t fold in half. There’s a stylus, two telephoto cameras, a large battery, and the most effective ding dang screens on any telephone, anyplace.

So why am I just a little underwhelmed? For starters, Samsung swapped final yr’s 10x telephoto digital camera for a higher-resolution 5x digital camera that makes use of in-sensor crop to zoom to 10x. It is a smart transfer, and photographs at 10x look tremendous, if not as crisp as they did on the final mannequin. It’s additionally pricier this time round, and it was already an costly telephone. It’s fairly darn heavy, too, and Samsung’s swap to titanium for the body hasn’t made it any lighter.

Private emotions concerning the zoom lens apart, the S24 Extremely remains to be principally peerless. Its much-touted AI options are tremendous, but when there’s one factor that makes it definitely worth the improve, it’s the display screen. Its anti-glare coating and boosted most brightness make it so comfy to make use of outdoors it’s nearly magic. That’s hardly a flowery new tech characteristic, however the Galaxy S24 Extremely is hardly any outdated telephone.

Learn my full Samsung Galaxy S24 Extremely overview.

Display screen: 6.82-inch 1440p 120Hz LTPO OLED / Processor: Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Cameras: 50-megapixel f/1.6 principal with OIS, 64-megapixel 3x telephoto with OIS, 48-megapixel f/2.2 ultrawide / Battery: 5400mAh / Charging: 80W wired, 50W wi-fi / Climate-resistance score: IP65

After just a few years and just a little soul-searching, OnePlus is again to its roots. The OnePlus 12 is a superb gadget with high-end efficiency with a aggressive value: $799 for the bottom mannequin with a hefty 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage.

For that value, you get a crisp 1440p 6.8-inch show, a top-tier Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, and a succesful digital camera. It helps wi-fi charging, one thing that earlier OnePlus flagships have skipped. Battery efficiency is incredible, too — energy customers can get by way of a full day, and light-weight customers can stretch it to 2.

What stands out concerning the OnePlus 12, although, would possibly simply be what’s not right here: a bunch of AI options. Actually? That’s sort of refreshing. Among the AI options Google and Samsung are busy transport proper now are good, however none of them really feel important. If you wish to sit out this AI hype cycle however you continue to need an excellent telephone, the OnePlus 12 is perhaps the one.

Learn my full OnePlus 12 overview.

Display screen: 8.0-inch 2076p 120Hz OLED inside display screen, 6.3-inch 1080p 120Hz OLED cowl display screen / Processor: Tensor G4 / Cameras: 48-megapixel f/1.7 principal with OIS, 10.8-megapixel 5x telephoto with OIS, 10.5-megapixel ultrawide, 10-megapixel selfie (cowl display screen), 10-megapixel inside selfie digital camera / Battery: 4,650mAh / Charging: 21W wired, 7.5W wi-fi / Climate resistance: IPX8

Does anybody actually want a folding telephone? Most likely not. However utilizing one is terribly good, and the Pixel 9 Professional Fold is the nicest book-style foldable I’ve used so far. It’s dear, it’s nonetheless bulkier than a slab-style telephone, and its cameras aren’t fairly as good as the opposite Pixel 9 Professional telephones. Nevertheless it’s a pleasure to make use of, each as an everyday telephone with the duvet display screen and once you unfold the massive inside display screen.

The 9 Professional Fold is Google’s second folding telephone, following up the passport-shaped Pixel Fold with a format that feels way more acquainted. The outer display screen measures 6.3 inches on the diagonal, however extra importantly, the ratio is identical as Google’s slab telephones. By comparability, Samsung’s Z Fold 6 makes use of a taller, narrower format that feels cramped. Having used them each, I a lot choose the 9 Professional Fold’s method.

That stated, the 9 Professional Fold isn’t with out compromises. The digital camera system isn’t fairly nearly as good as what you get within the different 9 Professional telephones. The outer display screen isn’t as sharp or brilliant because the Pixel 9 Professional’s, both. And it’s not as sturdy as its slab-style counterparts — there’s no mud resistance, and you may’t get it repaired simply anyplace. For $1,800, that’s an terrible lot to swallow. For the adventurous early adopter, although, the 9 Professional Fold can be very rewarding.

Learn my full Google Pixel 9 Professional Fold overview.

Display screen: 6.7-inch 1080p 120Hz OLED / Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 / Cameras: 50-megapixel F/1.9 principal with OIS, 50-megapixel ultrawide, 32-megapixel selfie / Battery: 4,700mAh / Charging: 45W wired, 15W wi-fi / Climate resistance: IP54

The Nothing Telephone 2 doesn’t supply the perfect worth proposition in its upper-midrange class. But when it’s model you’re after and one thing just a little flashy (effectively, quite a bit flashy), then the Telephone 2 is a straightforward choose.

It gives a very good 6.7-inch display screen, nice day by day efficiency and battery life, and a succesful digital camera system. However that’s the same old stuff — what’s uncommon concerning the Telephone 2 is its set of LED mild strips on the again panel. They illuminate in combos referred to as “glyphs,” and you may set them to warn you to sure notifications. It’s neat however in the end isn’t as useful because the system’s customizable always-on show.

On the draw back, the Telephone 2 is just splash-resistant fairly than absolutely proof against water submersion like just about all different telephones over $500. It’s additionally not absolutely supported on Verizon’s community, which takes it out of competition for lots of the US inhabitants.

If neither of the above is a deal-breaker, and the Telephone 2’s styling appeals to you, then it’s a wonderful alternative. One factor’s for positive — it undoubtedly stands out from the group.

Learn my full Nothing Telephone 2 overview.

There are various extra nice Android units that weren’t coated right here, and some are value calling out that didn’t fairly make the reduce for a suggestion.

• First off, there’s the Galaxy Z Flip 6, Samsung’s wonderful clamshell-style foldable. It’s not as a lot enjoyable to make use of because the 2024 Motorola Razr Plus — which facilitates utilizing apps on the duvet display screen extra simply — however Motorola’s monitor report for software program updates isn’t nice, so the Z Flip 6 is a safer wager for a flip telephone.
• The OnePlus Open can also be one other good book-style foldable possibility. It’s skinny and light-weight, and the software program contains some considerate approaches to multitasking — a vital a part of the folding telephone expertise. Nevertheless it gained’t be supported with software program updates for so long as the Pixel 9 Professional Fold or the Galaxy Z Fold 6.
• Final however not least, there’s the Google Pixel 8A. When you actually need to maximize the return in your funding, it’s onerous to beat Google’s newest midrange telephone. It covers all of the fundamentals for $499 whereas providing seven years of software program assist.

Replace, September thirteenth: Changed the Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus with the Google Pixel 9 as the most effective Android telephone for most individuals; changed the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 with the Google Pixel 9 Professional as the most effective folding telephone.