The best Android phones to buy in 2024

The Android ecosystem is all about selection. Whereas iPhone house owners have a smaller pool of latest units to select from when it’s time to improve, there’s a a lot wider vary of selections on Android. You need unimaginable digicam zoom? A built-in stylus? A telephone that runs an entire desktop atmosphere once you plug it right into a monitor? You will discover it on Android. Heck, yow will discover all of that in a single machine.

On the flip facet, all that selection could make for some arduous selections. Right here’s the place I’d like to assist; I’ve examined a complete 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 snug spending, and what your definition of a “moderately sized telephone” is. (I’ve my very own, personally.)

As you sift via the choices, you’ll virtually definitely 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 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 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 preserve promising. Finest to not put an excessive amount of inventory in any firm’s AI claims simply but.

Should you dwell within the US, I’ve some dangerous information concerning the Android market, although. For sophisticated causes having to do with “capitalism” and “geopolitics,” we don’t get almost as lots of the choices as you’ll discover in Asia and Europe — manufacturers like Huawei, Xiaomi, Honor, and Oppo simply aren’t out there 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 “at no cost” from their wi-fi service. Should you can handle it, shopping for a telephone unlocked gives you essentially the most flexibility and freedom if you find yourself wanting to vary carriers within the close to future. Cellphone producers additionally supply financing and trade-in offers to make fee extra manageable. However in case you’re pleased along 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 to perceive the phrases, particularly if it’s essential to change plans to money in on the deal. 

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

Display screen: 6.3-inch 1080p 120Hz OLED / Processor: Tensor G4 / Cameras: 50-megapixel f/1.7 major 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 fundamental Pixel 9 is in a very interesting place, and in case you don’t want a telephoto digicam or the largest display, then that is the Android telephone to get.

The Pixel 9 comes with some important quality-of-life enhancements like a quicker fingerprint scanner for unlocking the telephone. The digicam is as dependable as ever, and in case 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 digicam 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 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 Google Pixel 9 assessment.

Display screen: 6.8-inch 1440p 120Hz OLED / Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 / Cameras: 200-megapixel major 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 every little thing you possibly can ask for in a telephone — nicely, not 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, anyplace.

So why am I somewhat underwhelmed? For starters, Samsung swapped final yr’s 10x telephoto digicam for a higher-resolution 5x digicam that makes use of in-sensor crop to zoom to 10x. This can be a wise transfer, and images 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 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 tremendous, but when there’s one factor that makes it definitely worth the improve, it’s the display. Its anti-glare coating and boosted most brightness make it so snug to make use of exterior it’s virtually magic. That’s hardly a flowery new tech function, however the Galaxy S24 Extremely is hardly any outdated telephone.

Learn my Samsung Galaxy S24 Extremely assessment.

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

After just a few years and somewhat 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 digicam. 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. Truthfully? That’s sort of refreshing. A number of the AI options Google and Samsung are busy delivery 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 OnePlus 12 assessment.

Display screen: 8.0-inch 2076p 120Hz OLED internal display, 6.3-inch 1080p 120Hz OLED cowl display / Processor: Tensor G4 / Cameras: 48-megapixel f/1.7 major with OIS, 10.8-megapixel 5x telephoto with OIS, 10.5-megapixel ultrawide, 10-megapixel selfie (cowl display), 10-megapixel internal selfie digicam / 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 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. But it surely’s a pleasure to make use of, each as an everyday telephone with the quilt display and once you unfold the massive internal display.

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 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 want the 9 Professional Fold’s method.

That stated, the 9 Professional Fold isn’t with out compromises. The digicam system isn’t fairly nearly as good as what you get within the different 9 Professional telephones. The outer display isn’t as sharp or shiny 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 Google Pixel 9 Professional Fold assessment.

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

The Nothing Cellphone 2 doesn’t supply the easiest worth proposition in its upper-midrange class. But when it’s model you’re after and one thing somewhat flashy (nicely, loads flashy), then the Cellphone 2 is a straightforward choose.

It provides a great 6.7-inch display, nice each day efficiency and battery life, and a succesful digicam system. However that’s the same old stuff — what’s uncommon concerning the Cellphone 2 is its set of LED gentle strips on the again panel. They illuminate in combos known as “glyphs,” and you may set them to provide you with a warning 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 Cellphone 2 is simply splash-resistant fairly than absolutely proof against water submersion like nearly 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 Cellphone 2’s styling appeals to you, then it’s a wonderful selection. One factor’s for positive — it undoubtedly stands out from the gang.

Learn my Nothing Cellphone 2 assessment.

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 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 extra simply — however Motorola’s monitor report for software program updates isn’t nice, so the Z Flip 6 is a safer guess for a flip telephone. Learn our assessment.
• The OnePlus Open can also be one other good book-style foldable choice. It’s skinny and lightweight, and the software program contains some considerate approaches to multitasking — a vital a part of the folding telephone expertise. But it surely gained’t be supported with software program updates for so long as the Pixel 9 Professional Fold or the Galaxy Z Fold 6. Learn our assessment.
• Final however not least, there’s the Google Pixel 8A. Should you actually wish to maximize the return in your funding, it’s arduous to beat Google’s newest midrange telephone. It covers all of the fundamentals for $499 whereas providing seven years of software program assist. Learn our assessment.

Replace, December ninth: Up to date to replicate present pricing and availability.