Since Android phones are produced by a wide range of manufacturers, there is plenty of choice when it comes to choosing one suitable for you. But with them all competing against each other for the title of best camera, brightest display, or longest-lasting battery, finding the ideal one can be challenging.

Best Android Phone Overall: Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra succeeds the S23 Ultra and takes the latter's spot in our Best Overall title. It takes performance up a notch with its Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor while maintaining 12GB of RAM.

The sharp-edged, rectangular design has an edge-to-edge flat screen. Its titanium frame is sturdy and robust, and it doesn’t get much tougher than Gorilla Armor glass. Together with the phone’s impressive 2,600-nit peak brightness, you’ll be able to clearly see the screen outside no matter how much the sun shines.

The Galaxy S24 Ultra's breathtaking 6.8-inch AMOLED display bursts with contrast and color, the stunning 200MP primary camera remains, and the S Pen continues to be one of the phone's biggest selling points. And, while the 10x telephoto lens has been reduced to 5x, the resolution is now 50MP and delivers sharper images.

However, it is big, so if you feel like something more compact, the regular Galaxy S24 may suit you more, even though there are some hardware compromises.

Best Budget Android Phone: Moto G Play 2024

The Moto G Play has been updated for 2024 and offers some exciting developments while remaining at an incredibly low price. The 6nm Snapdragon 680 chipset significantly boosts its performance against last year’s sluggish predecessor. RAM and storage have also been improved to 4GB and 64GB, respectively, and you can also extend the latter to 1TB through a microSD card.

The display sports tough Corning Gorilla 3 glass and it has an IP52 rating protecting against dust, light rain, and accidental spills. Charging speed is faster, and the outstanding 5,000mAh battery delivers up to 46 hours on a single charge.

However, it’s the camera that has seen the most significant upgrade. The resolution of the 50MP rear lens now falls in line with many premium smartphones, and it also has a decent selfie camera.

Best Midrange Android Phone: Google Pixel 7a

Google’s “a” series was intended to be an affordable but less feature-packed alternative to its flagship smartphones. But the series has only improved over time, and the latest in the range, the Google Pixel 7a, gets particularly close to the upper mid-range Pixel 7 in terms of specifications and features.

Both phones are powered by the Tensor G2, have the same Full HD resolution and 90Hz refresh rate, offer similar battery life, come with an IP67 dust and water resistance rating, and feature the same 8GB of RAM and 128GB of built-in storage.

The Pixel 7a also features a 24-hour battery life, an impressive 64MP primary camera, and a 13MP ultra-wide shooter with outstanding software features to enhance your smartphone photography experience.

Best Android Camera Phone: Google Pixel 8 Pro

The Google Pixel 8 Pro features four cameras: a 50MP primary lens with a 2x optical zoom, a 48MP telephoto with a 5x, a 48MP ultrawide, and a 10.5MP selfie camera with phase-detection autofocus. Taking photos is an absolute cinch; you mostly just need to point and shoot for the best image. However, manual settings are available, including ISO and shutter speed control.

It also boasts some incredible photo-editing tools. These include “Best Take,” which can magically select the happiest faces from a series of group photos and rearrange them into one perfectly pleased bunch. Then there’s “Magic Editor,” which takes AI editing to a surreal level. In short, the Google Pixel 8 Pro is excellent for smartphone photography.

Display-wise, you get a sharp, color-accurate 6.7-inch OLED screen with a 120Hz refresh rate. It can also hit high brightness levels up to a maximum of 2,400 nits. You also get high-end performance, dust and water resistance, and wireless charging, and it is available in three attractive colors with storage capacities of 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB.

Best Android Phone for Battery Life: OnePlus 12

If you seek an Android phone with an extended battery life, the OnePlus 12 scores top marks. It packs a 5,400mAh battery that outperforms most flagship smartphones and supports SuperVOOC charging at up to 100W (80W in the US) for a full charge in under 25 minutes.

It boasts a 6.82-inch, high-resolution OLED display with a claimed peak brightness of 4,500 nits. While the OnePlus 12 is indeed bright, this record-breaking claim is a bold one. However, it is bright enough to ensure HDR content looks sublime, and you can easily view the screen on a sunny day.

The 50MP primary camera isn’t half bad, either. Additionally, the 64MP telephoto has a 3x optical zoom, while the front camera boasts an impressive 32MP resolution to help you look your best when taking selfies.

FAQ

Q: What are the advantages of Android over iOS?

Choosing one over the other is a purely subjective choice. There are many reasons why you might want to opt for an Android device, yet iOS has many outstanding features that Android can’t compete with. At the end of the day, both are brilliant systems, but each comes with its own pros and cons. Choosing the right one for you depends on your own circumstances and preferences.

Q: How do I move data from one Android phone to another?

It’s simple to transfer data between Android phones, and you can transfer all your apps, music, photos, videos, contacts, texts, call history, and more. However, you should first make sure your new device has enough storage to receive all the data you want to transfer from your old device.

Q: Can I play games on my Android phone?

Yes, you can play games on your Android phone. There is a huge variety of games, from action titles to word puzzles, that you can download from the Google Play Store. You can even stream PC games to an Android phone or connect a controller if it enhances the experience for you.

Q: How do you find a lost Android phone?

There are several ways to find a lost Android phone. The easiest option is to enable Find My Device on your Android before mishaps occur.