Samsung, Google Pixel, and more

For these looking for the Android cellphone that tops all the remaining, look no additional than the Galaxy S24 Extremely. Whereas its $1,299.99 beginning worth understandably places it out of attain for some, those that can afford it can have a cellphone at their disposal that excels in nearly each method you possibly can ask for such a tool.

As you’d anticipate from a 2024 flagship, the Galaxy S24 Extremely comes outfitted with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset backed by 12GB of RAM. This pairing naturally offers chart-topping efficiency, making for a superb consumer expertise whether or not you’re searching your cellphone or getting in a couple of minutes of gaming. The digital camera {hardware} has obtained an improve too, with a brand new 50MP periscope telephoto lens that helps as much as 5x optical zoom.

With the Galaxy S24 Extremely, Samsung has lastly bid adieu to curved screens. This variation is understandably considerably divisive, however one thing all customers can profit from is the cellphone’s new peak brightness of two,600nits (up from 1,750nits on the S23 Extremely). Such a lift tremendously assists with outside viewing and, extra importantly, lets each SDR and HDR content material really pop. The display screen can also be coated with Corning Gorilla Armor glass for added safety.

Samsung, like its rivals, is leaning closely into AI with its telephones now and the Galaxy S24 Extremely is not any exception. Nevertheless, it’s vital to notice that a lot of what the corporate is providing right here isn’t unique to this cellphone and may be discovered elsewhere. Extra importantly, although, is that you simply’ll have to pay to entry some options from 2026 onwards. For extra on this one, learn our Samsung Galaxy S24 Extremely evaluate.

You don’t have to pay copious quantities of money to get an ideal cellphone, with the Pixel 7a serving as a main instance. For $499.99, cheaper nonetheless in locations because the launch of the Pixel 8a, you’re getting the lion’s share of what makes the more-expensive Pixel 7 such an ideal cellphone to at the present time.

Digital camera high quality is suitably excessive on the Pixel 7a, coming shut sufficient to the perfect Google Pixel telephones that the majority people ought to discover little to nothing to complain about pictures taken with it. That is the primary A-series cellphone to function new sensors, with a brand new 64MP foremost lens taking on major duties and a 13MP ultrawide which can be a lower above predecessors just like the Pixel 6a.

As with all Pixel telephones, you may anticipate a inventory Android launcher that runs easily on the Tensor G2 chipset and is devoid of duplicate functions that litter up its admittedly restricted 128GB of storage. Make sure to dive into its settings menu, although, as you’ll annoyingly have to allow the 90Hz refresh fee of its show, as its OLED panel runs at 60Hz by default.

Taking part in video games on the Pixel 7a is a good expertise however the cellphone can develop into noticeably heat if its Tensor G2 chipset is underneath stress for a chronic interval. This, naturally, results in some thermal throttling, nevertheless it by no means will get so scorching that you need to put it down. For extra particulars, see our Google Pixel 7a evaluate.

Whereas the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 performs effectively in different Android flagships and the perfect gaming tablets, the chipset doesn’t shine fairly as brightly in these units because it does within the ROG Telephone 8 Professional Version. For those who demand the very best body charges from their cellphone, at the price of different options, that is the undisputed champ.

Peak efficiency naturally calls for a lofty worth and you may anticipate to pay $1,499.99 for the ROG Telephone 8 Professional Version. This consists of the in any other case elective AeroActive Cooler X accent ($99) however the main variations in comparison with the usual 8 Professional are in storage and RAM, which jumps to 1TB and 24GB, respectively.

A redesigned chassis makes the ROG Telephone 8 Professional Version a extra refined smartphone to hold round, with far much less aggressive stylings typical of a ROG gaming product. Nonetheless, Asus has included an AniMe Imaginative and prescient Mini LED show on the again of the cellphone which is a novel and surprisingly helpful addition, offering you with notification data, the time, or only a cool strategy to personalize your cellphone additional.

Utilizing the cellphone for video games or extra typically is silky clean because of its 165Hz show, however you’ll need to be a little bit extra acutely aware of battery life on condition that the ROG Telephone 8 Professional Version comes with a smaller 5,500mAh battery (down from 6,000mAh within the ROG Telephone 7 Final). Keep in mind, as effectively, that you simply shouldn’t anticipate flagship-level images from its digital camera array, regardless of its worth. ASUS has made enhancements right here, however there’s solely a lot it may do with the midrange IMX890 sensor. For the total lowdown, test out our Asus ROG Telephone 8 Professional Version evaluate.

Level-and-shoot images doesn’t get any higher on Android telephones than it does with the Google Pixel 9 Professional XL. That mentioned, Google’s newest flagship has rather more to supply than only a implausible digital camera array, with a implausible OLED display screen, a specs enhance, and 7 years of updates all serving to to justify the worth tag.

The Pixel 9 Professional XL has a stellar triple digital camera set-up consisting of a 50MP large digital camera, 48MP ultrawide, and 48MP 5x telephoto lens. In our testing, we discovered there wasn’t a state of affairs the factor wasn’t prepared for, be it epic large panorama photographs or zoomed-in macro snaps. Mix this with the stellar Pixel picture enhancing instruments, together with the AI-powered Magic Eraser, and there’s no higher Android possibility for newbie photographers.

There aren’t any large drawbacks to the Pixel 9 Professional XL, although its Tensor G4 chipset continues to be behind competing Snapdragon choices, even when it’s higher for avid gamers than the Tensor G3. It’s additionally bought a better worth level than we’re used to seeing from Pixel units, however contemplating the standard of the cameras, we predict it’s greater than price it. For extra of our ideas on this one, try our Google Pixel 9 Professional XL evaluate.

Though the Open is the primary foldable cellphone from OnePlus, the corporate has deftly managed to craft a superb machine that beats out competing choices from producers extra seasoned at making this way issue. Open or closed, its consumer expertise is great.

Throughout the board, the Open gives every little thing you’d need from a cellphone along with its foldable options. All three of its OLED screens are sharp with a 426-431 pixels-per-inch vary, pack a clean 120Hz refresh fee, and are exceptionally vivid with a 2,800 nits peak brightness, which is leagues above a number of the different folding telephones just like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5.

The digital camera bump is giant however homes some nice lenses for images and video, with a 48MP large, ultrawide, and 64MP telephoto lens. Additional including to the Open’s premium really feel is the robust high quality of its bodily construct and of its software program, with OnePlus offering a seamless expertise no matter the way you’re utilizing the cellphone.

Compromises in service of a foldable design come as no shock, however the Open’s largest negatives are literally very straightforward to reside with and should not faze some potential consumers. OnePlus has omitted wi-fi charging from the Open, probably due to its giant digital camera bump, however its 67W wired charging is loads quick. The most important downside affecting the cellphone, although, is its IPX4 score, which understandably provides warning to its $1,699.99 price ticket.

Sporting a much bigger cowl display screen and a refined hinge design, the Galaxy Z Flip 5 marks probably the most compelling realization of Samsung’s flip cellphone design and finds itself forward of the pack. Make no mistake, it’s as fairly as it’s highly effective and naturally, packs a satisfyingly crisp closing sound that by no means will get previous.

The Galaxy Z Flip 5’s seen hinge could hassle some, as will the crease on the inner show, each are rapidly forgotten about throughout regular use. The cellphone is just a pleasure to make use of, open or closed, with Samsung lastly altering its hinge design to permit for a virtually gapless closed state.

Samsung has additionally tremendously expanded the capabilities and dimension of the Galaxy Z Flip 5’s Flex display screen, changing the Flip4’s comparatively minute cowl show with a 3.4-inch 720p panel. This makes the cellphone rather more helpful whereas closed with a stunning quantity of apps optimized for the small type issue, with the choice so as to add unoptimized ones when you’re feeling courageous sufficient.

Battery capability is on the smaller facet (3,700mAh), as chances are you’ll anticipate from a flip cellphone, however Samsung has seemingly missed a trick that may assist to lengthen the time between costs. Annoyingly, the outside Flex show is consistently operating at 60Hz, when it’d just do as effectively operating at 1Hz with an LTPO panel. If you wish to know extra, see our Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 evaluate.

The Nubia Z60S Professional is a implausible addition to the perfect Android telephones. It’s completely beautiful AMOLED show is an actual gem amid rivals out there, with crisp colours, and spectacular brightness. Battery life is difficult to compete with too, as our testing discovered that even from 54% cost it might final for one more 48 hours. Utilizing the ability of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor, you’ll discover on a regular basis duties are a breeze for the Z60S Professional, and gaming is as clean as butter.

The place the Nubia Z60S Professional falters is the cellphone’s barely awkward type issue, as it might be a bit greater than different telephones you’ve had up to now. The cellphone’s fiddly fingerprint recognition options are additionally missing.

However, that is an ace handset that may compete with the larger manufacturers on the market, and is worthy various when you’re after one thing completely different.

Whereas the perfect rugged telephones aren’t for everybody, when you spend quite a lot of time on constructing websites otherwise you’ve bought an adventurous streak, the Doogee S200 is without doubt one of the finest Android cellphone choices for you. At round $400 at full worth, the S200 is safely within the mid-range bracket however comes with tons of specialised options for work and leisure together with a fast-charging, long-life battery, 1.5m drop safety, and a number of other helpful survival apps.

What it lacks in smooth design and next-generation know-how, the Doogee greater than makes up for with its sturdiness, usefulness, and flexibility. What makes the S200 probably the greatest within the enterprise in our books is its surprisingly good gaming capabilities. As you may think, gaming is usually low on the precedence checklist for rugged cellphone producers, however the S200 gives a clean and pleasing gaming expertise alongside all of its different advantages.