The most effective Android telephones to purchase in 2024

The Android ecosystem is all about alternative. Whereas iPhone homeowners have a smaller pool of recent gadgets to select from when it’s time to improve, there’s a a lot wider vary of decisions on Android. You need unimaginable digital camera zoom? A built-in stylus? A telephone that runs an entire desktop setting whenever you plug it right into a monitor? Yow will discover it on Android. Heck, you will discover all of that in a single machine.

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

As you sift via the choices, you’ll nearly definitely come throughout tech’s favourite buzzphrase of the 12 months: AI. Typically talking, AI has but to actually impress me on a telephone. The Pixel 9 collection has some probably helpful options, like a brand new Screenshots app that makes use of AI to tag related information in metadata, and Galaxy gadgets can translate a telephone name for you in actual time. These items 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.

In case you dwell within the US, I’ve some dangerous information concerning the Android market, although. For classy 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 gadgets I’ve personally examined in depth; thus, it’s a pretty US-centric set of suggestions. 

With that in thoughts, it’s additionally price acknowledging that most individuals within the US get their telephones “for free” from their wi-fi provider. In case you can handle it, shopping for a telephone unlocked will provide you with probably the most flexibility and freedom if you find yourself wanting to alter carriers within the close to future. Telephone producers additionally provide financing and trade-in offers to make cost extra manageable. However for those who’re completely happy together with your provider and the free telephone on provide is the one you really need, by all means, take the free telephone. Simply ensure you perceive the phrases, particularly if it’s essential to change plans to money in on the deal. 

Nevertheless you go about it, you may have some improbable choices to your subsequent Android telephone.

Display: 6.3-inch 1080p 120Hz OLED / Processor: Tensor G4 / Cameras: 50-megapixel f/1.7 primary 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 best 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 fundamental Pixel 9 is in a very interesting place, and for those who 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 important quality-of-life enhancements like a sooner fingerprint scanner for unlocking the telephone. The digital camera is as dependable as ever, and for those who’re into AI photograph modifying tips, boy does this telephone have ‘em. There’s a brand new Screenshots app that acts as a spot to retailer the entire info that may 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 useful.

Even with out AI, this is a wonderful telephone. It’s additionally designed to go the gap, with seven years of promised OS updates, which very doubtless 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 advice for anybody who simply desires a pleasant Android telephone that works.

Learn my full Google Pixel 9 evaluation.

Display: 6.8-inch 1440p 120Hz OLED / Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 / Cameras: 200-megapixel primary 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 identify: Extremely. It has every little thing you possibly can ask for in a telephone — properly, no less than one which doesn’t fold in half. There’s a stylus, two telephoto cameras, a large battery, and among the finest ding dang screens on any telephone, wherever.

So why am I a little bit underwhelmed? For starters, Samsung swapped final 12 months’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 wise transfer, and pictures at 10x look advantageous, 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 change to titanium for the body hasn’t made it any lighter.

Private emotions concerning the zoom lens apart, the S24 Extremely continues to be mainly peerless. Its much-touted AI options are advantageous, 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 exterior it’s nearly magic. That’s hardly a elaborate new tech function, however the Galaxy S24 Extremely is hardly any previous telephone.

Learn my full Samsung Galaxy S24 Extremely evaluation.

Display: 6.82-inch 1440p 120Hz LTPO OLED / Processor: Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Cameras: 50-megapixel f/1.6 primary 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 a little bit soul-searching, OnePlus is again to its roots. The OnePlus 12 is a wonderful machine with high-end efficiency with a aggressive worth: $799 for the bottom mannequin with a hefty 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage.

For that worth, 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 improbable, too — energy customers can get via a full day, and lightweight 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 form 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 awesome telephone, the OnePlus 12 may be the one.

Learn my full OnePlus 12 evaluation.

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

Does anybody really want a folding telephone? In all probability not. However utilizing one is very good, and the Pixel 9 Professional Fold is the nicest book-style foldable I’ve used thus far. It’s expensive, 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 a daily telephone with the quilt display screen and whenever you unfold the massive interior display screen.

The 9 Professional Fold is Google’s second folding telephone, following up the passport-shaped Pixel Fold with a format that feels rather more acquainted. The outer display screen measures 6.3 inches on the diagonal, however extra importantly, the ratio is similar 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 desire the 9 Professional Fold’s method.

That mentioned, the 9 Professional Fold isn’t with out compromises. The digital camera system isn’t fairly pretty much as good as what you get within the different 9 Professional telephones. The outer display screen isn’t as sharp or vivid 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 wherever. For $1,800, that’s an terrible lot to swallow. For the adventurous early adopter, although, the 9 Professional Fold shall be very rewarding.

Learn my full Google Pixel 9 Professional Fold evaluation.

Display: 6.7-inch 1080p 120Hz OLED / Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 / Cameras: 50-megapixel F/1.9 primary 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 provide the easiest worth proposition in its upper-midrange class. But when it’s fashion you’re after and one thing a little bit flashy (properly, quite a bit flashy), then the Telephone 2 is a straightforward choose.

It provides a great 6.7-inch display screen, nice every day efficiency and battery life, and a succesful digital camera system. However that’s the standard stuff — what’s uncommon concerning the Telephone 2 is its set of LED gentle strips on the again panel. They illuminate in mixtures known as “glyphs,” and you may set them to provide you with a warning to sure notifications. It’s neat however finally isn’t as useful because the system’s customizable always-on show.

On the draw back, the Telephone 2 is just splash-resistant somewhat than absolutely immune to 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 evaluation.

There are lots of extra nice Android gadgets that weren’t coated right here, and some are price calling out that didn’t fairly make the minimize for a advice.

• First off, there’s the Galaxy Z Flip 6, Samsung’s glorious 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 quilt display screen extra simply — however Motorola’s observe document 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 lightweight, and the software program consists of some considerate approaches to multitasking — a vital a part of the folding telephone expertise. Nevertheless it received’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. In case you actually need to maximize the return in your funding, it’s exhausting 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 one of the best Android telephone for most individuals; changed the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 with the Google Pixel 9 Professional as one of the best folding telephone.