There’s one clear perk that Android has over iOS and that’s selection in relation to the telephones you need 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 troublesome to determine which system is greatest for you when it comes time to improve, or if you wish to change from iPhone to Android within the new yr. For those who’re on the lookout for a brand new cellphone and don’t know the place to begin, we’ve received you lined with a choice of the very best Android telephones for each finances.
What to search for in a brand new Android cellphone
Efficiency
On the subject of selecting our favourite Android telephones, the principle issues we search for are fairly simple: good efficiency (each compute and AI), a pleasant show, stable design, sharp cameras, lengthy battery life and a big dedication to ongoing software program assist. For efficiency, not solely will we have 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 way of social media or taking part in a sport, nobody desires a gadget that feels sluggish.
Show
On the subject of shows, we typically choose OLED panels that may produce wealthy, saturated colours with not less than 600 nits of brightness, although lots of our high mid-range and high-end telephones can hit 1,000 nits or extra. And extra just lately, most of our favourite units additionally assist 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 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 may have an effect on how your cellphone interacts together with your different units.
Cameras
Clearly, for images we’re on the lookout for sharp, colourful photographs in each shiny and low-light situations. And we would like video clips with excessive dynamic vary, wealthy audio and easy picture stabilization. Additional cameras for ultra-wide and telephoto lenses are a plus. The very best cameras also needs to embody options like devoted evening modes, assist for varied 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 on the lookout for all-day battery life on units that additionally delivered nice outcomes on our native video rundown take a look at (not less than 16 hours on a cost, however extra is clearly higher). Wi-fi charging capabilities have turn out to be virtually ubiquitous over the previous few years, and most of our high picks have this additional perk. Quick-charging is out there on some Android telephones, too. Lastly, with individuals holding onto their telephones longer than ever, we prefer to see firms decide to not less than three years of software program assist, upgrades and common safety updates.
Learn our full Google Pixel 9 Professional and Pixel 9 Professional XL evaluate
Processor: Google Tensor G4 | Show: 6.3-inch Tremendous Actua, as much as 120Hz | Cameras: Rear array (50MP extensive, 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 probably the greatest Android telephones round, with the Professional mannequin being the superior model. Nevertheless it was at all times a 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 Professional, which is the littler model of the Pixel 9 Professional XL. As an alternative of a comparatively giant 6.8-inch display like that on its larger 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 virtually 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 common grown-up vibe. Whereas earlier Pixel flagships had a colourful, blocky design that felt recent, this yr’s units really feel stable and refined. And, dare we are saying it, virtually like iPhones. With out the digicam bars, they might be fairly arduous to inform other than Apple’s telephones.
Presumably as a result of it is grown up a lot through the years, however the Pixel telephones now value 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 choice, this yr’s mannequin could be ok to justify a premium value. For those who nonetheless need one thing from the Pixel 9 household however do not wish 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 yr of Gemini Superior without cost
- Unbelievable battery life
- A fantastic, shiny display that’s simple to make use of outside
- Tensor G4 runs cooler than its predecessor
- Slower charging speeds than the XL
- Not the very best cellphone for gaming
Picture by Sam Rutherford / Engadget
Learn our full Google Pixel 8a evaluate
Processor: Google Tensor G3 | Show: 6.1-inch 1,080 x 2,400 OLED, as much as 120Hz | Cameras: Rear array (64MP extensive, 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 features 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 could be probably the greatest offers in the marketplace.
- Colourful 120Hz OLED show
- Sturdy battery life
- Wonderful cameras
- Nice worth
- Sluggish wi-fi charging
- Thick bezels
Picture by Sam Rutherford / Engadget
Learn our full Samsung Galaxy S24 Extremely evaluate
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 largest improve is a brand new full suite of AI instruments, which incorporates the flexibility to proofread texts, edit photographs and transcribe recordings. And whenever you tack on the very best show accessible on a cellphone at the moment and a built-in stylus, you have got a really compelling flagship handset. Sadly, beginning at $1,300, the S24 Extremely is a bit too costly to advocate to anybody with out deep pockets.
Picture by Sam Rutherford/Engadget
Learn our full Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 evaluate
Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 | Show: 7.6-inch QXGA+ full show, 6.3-inch HD+ cowl show | Cameras: Rear array (50MP extensive, 12MP ultrawide, 10dMP telephoto), 10MP (Cowl) + 4MP UDC (Predominant) entrance digicam | Battery: 4,400mAh
Whereas we’d have preferred to see some extra drastic design adjustments, Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 6 stays one of the 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 assist, although you’ll must pay additional for one among Samsung’s S Pens. Maybe the most important draw back is that Samsung’s newest flagship now prices $100 greater than its predecessor.
- Tremendous shiny and colourful show
- Even lighter chassis
- Nice battery life
- Native stylus assist
- Much more costly than earlier than
- Identical foremost digicam because the earlier two Z Folds
- S Pen not included
- Charging speeds could possibly be sooner
