Choosing the best Android phone can feel overwhelming as there are so many options from so many brands, it’s hard to know where to start.Unlike Apple, which sticks to its sleek lineup of iPhones, Android offers a world of variety.Whether you're eyeing the latest flagship from Samsung, a budget-friendly smartphone from Motorola or something unique with a foldable design, there’s an Android device out there to suit your needs.The beauty of Android is its flexibility.
You’ll find phones with different screen sizes, camera setups, battery life and even quirky extras like stylus support or rugged builds.Plus, Android lets you customize your device to your heart's content – something Apple fans might envy.We’ve tested and researched the top Android phones to help you find the right one for your budget, lifestyle, and tech preferences.Quick OverviewBest Android phone overallGoogle Pixel 9 ProMore options$999 at Google$999 at Amazon$999 at Best BuyBest budget Android phoneGoogle Pixel 8aMore options$490 at Amazon$499 at Google StoreBest premium Android phoneSamsung Galaxy S25 UltraMore options$1,300 at Amazon$1,300 at WalmartBest foldable Android phoneGoogle Pixel 9 Pro FoldMore options$1,799 at Google$1,799 at AmazonHonorable mentionOnePlus 13$900 at OnePlusWhat to look for in a new Android phonePerformanceWhen it comes to picking our favorite Android phones, the main things we look for are pretty straightforward: good performance (both compute and AI), a nice display, solid design, sharp cameras, long battery life and a significant commitment to ongoing software support.
For performance, not only do we look at benchmarks and other metrics, but we also evaluate phones based on responsiveness.Regardless of whether you’re reading, text messaging, scrolling through social media or playing a game, no one wants a gadget that feels sluggish.DisplayWhen it comes to displays, we generally prefer OLED panels that can produce rich, saturated colors with at least 600 nits of brightness, though many of our top mid-range and high-end phones can hit 1,000 nits or more.And more recently, most of our favorite devices also support screens with fast refresh rates of 90Hz or 120Hz, which adds an extra level of smoothness and fluidity.DesignNow we will admit there is a bit of subjectivity when deciding which phones look the best, but there are other design aspects like dust and water resistance or screen durability that can make a big difference to long-term survival.
It’s also important to consider things like support for wireless charging, power sharing (aka reverse wireless charging) and UWB connectivity, which can have an impact on how your phone interacts with your other devices.CamerasObviously, for photos we’re looking for sharp, colorful shots in both bright and low-light conditions.And we want video clips with high dynamic range, rich audio and smooth image stabilization.Extra cameras for ultra-wide and telephoto lenses are a plus.
The best cameras should also include features like dedicated night modes, support for various video recording resolutions, and additional photo modes like timelapse, slow motion and more.Battery and softwareFinally, in terms of longevity, we’re looking for all-day battery life on devices that also delivered great results on our local video rundown test (at least 16 hours on a charge, but more is obviously better).Wireless charging capabilities have become almost ubiquitous over the past few years, and most of our top picks have this extra perk.Fast-charging is available on some Android phones, too.
Finally, with people holding onto their phones longer than ever, we like to see companies commit to at least three years of software support, upgrades and regular security updates.Google94100Expert ScoreBest Android phone overallGoogle Pixel 9 ProRead our full Google Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro XL review Processor: Google Tensor G4 | Display: 6.3-inch Super Actua, up to 120Hz | Cameras: Rear array (50MP wide, 48MP ultrawide with Macro Focus, 48MP 5x telephoto lens), 42MP dual PD selfie front camera with autofocus | Battery: 4,700mAh Finally, a smaller Pixel Pro.Google's Pixel series has long been one of the best Android phones around, with the Pro model being the superior version.But it was always a little too big and too cumbersome for those of us who have smaller hands or want our phones to fit in our pockets.
Cue the Pixel 9 Pro, which is the littler version of the Pixel 9 Pro XL.Instead of a relatively large 6.8-inch screen like that on its bigger sibling, the standard Pro has a 6.3-inch display that is easy to maneuver.No more worrying about dropping your Pixel Pro just because you fumbled while trying to reach the top of the screen! Better yet, with the Pixel 9 Pro, Google hasn't sacrificed any key feature to get to the smaller size, meaning you'll find the same camera setup and performance in both handsets.
The only real differences are the screen size, battery and charging speeds, as the non-XL model recharges at a slightly slower rate.But the Pixel 9 Pro is also much longer-lasting than the XL, notching almost 25 hours on our battery test.Those distinctions aside, the Pixel 9 Pro lineup is our favorite Android phone because of its top-notch camera performance, intriguing AI features and a general grown-up vibe.
While previous Pixel flagships had a colorful, blocky design that felt fresh, this year's devices feel solid and refined.And, dare we say it, almost like iPhones.Without the camera bars, they would be pretty hard to tell apart from Apple's phones.
Possibly because it's grown up so much over the years, but the Pixel phones now cost the same as iPhones.The Pixel 9 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro both start at $999, and though some of us have come to think of Google's handsets as the more competitively priced option, this year's model might be good enough to justify a premium price.If you still want something from the Pixel 9 family but don't want to pay $1,000, the base Pixel 9 is still a solid handset for most people.
But as it stands, the Pixel 9 Pro is the best Android handset money can buy.ProsGreat camera features and improved telephoto cameraA year of Gemini Advanced for freeIncredible battery lifeA beautiful, bright screen that’s easy to use outdoorsTensor G4 runs cooler than its predecessorConsSlower charging speeds than the XLNot the best phone for gaming$999 at GoogleExplore More Buying Options$999 at Amazon$999 at Best BuyPhoto by Sam Rutherford / Engadget90100Expert ScoreBest budget Android phoneGoogle Pixel 8aRead our full Google Pixel 8a review Processor: Google Tensor G3 | Display: 6.1-inch 1,080 x 2,400 OLED, up to 120Hz | Cameras: Rear array (64MP wide, 13MP ultrawide), 13MP front camera | Battery: 4,49mAh Google’s A-series Pixels have long been some of the best midrange phones on the market.But now with the addition of a Tensor G3 chip, the Pixel 8a supports the same powerful and versatile AI functions you get on Google’s flagship phones along with excellent cameras, a gorgeous 120Hz OLED display and great battery life.
The device also comes with creature comforts like IP67 dust and water resistance and convenient (but slow) 7.5-watt Qi wireless charging.But most importantly, starting at $499, it might be one of the best deals on the market.ProsColorful 120Hz OLED displayStrong battery lifeExcellent camerasGreat valueConsSlow wireless chargingThick bezels$490 at AmazonExplore More Buying Options$499 at Google StorePhoto by Sam Rutherford / Engadget89100Expert ScoreBest premium Android phoneSamsung Galaxy S25 UltraRead our full Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra review Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite | Display: 6.9-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2x QHD+, up to 120Hz | Cameras: Rear array (200MP, Dual Pixel AF, Digital Zoom 100x, 50MP Macro, 50MP UW), 12MP front camera | Battery: 5,000mAh The S25 Ultra is a do-anything phone.
It has a wide range of cameras including a 5x telephoto lens and a new 50-megapixel sensor for its ultra-wide shooter, a gorgeous 6.9-inch AMOLED display (which is 0.1 inches bigger than last year) and of course, Samsung’s signature S Pen.That said, for 2025, Samsung’s main focus was on its improved Galaxy AI features such as Now Brief, which creates a personalized feed of news, events and more.There’s also Drawing Assist that makes it easier to create AI-generated art, or you can turn to AI Select for help with taking screenshots, turning videos into GIFs or summarizing stories.
Unfortunately, aside from a new Snapdragon 8 Elite chip, the S25 Ultra doesn’t come with a ton of new hardware compared to its predecessor (or the S23U for that matter).So while Samsung’s latest flagship is a great phone, it doesn’t feel like an essential upgrade for people with flagship devices that are only a year or two old.ProsExcellent screenGreat performance and battery lifeAnti-reflective Gorilla Armor 2 panelsSlimmer bezelsNew 50MP ultra-wide sensorConsS Pen no longer suppers Air actionsSame main and telephoto cameras as last yearNot fully compatible with magnetic Qi2 accessoriesExpensive$1,300 at AmazonExplore More Buying Options$1,300 at WalmartGoogle88100Expert ScoreBest foldable Android phoneGoogle Pixel 9 Pro FoldRead our full Pixel 9 Pro Fold review Processor: Google Tensor G4 | Display: 8-inch Super Actua Flex LTPO full display, 6.3-inch Actua cover display | Cameras: Rear array (48MP wide, 10.5MP ultrawide, 10.8MP telephoto), 10MP front camera | Battery: 4,650mAh The small but mighty improvements Google brought to its second-gen foldable have pushed it to the front of the pack.
The Pixel 9 Pro Fold turns the somewhat unfinished original Pixel Fold into a solid handset ready for prime time.Google refined its design to have an aspect ratio that mimics the standard Pixel 9 smartphones, with a familiar 6.3-inch, 20:9 external display, that’s both easier to use and hold.The internal display has a more square aspect ratio as well with a bit more screen real estate than before.
The handset overall has a more premium feel and certainly a more polished look thanks to its matte back and satin metal frame.Along with solid performance (and battery life) and an upgraded design to match, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold still has the best cameras out of any foldable handset we’ve tried, despite not having any hardware upgrades from the original version.Plus, Google’s AI image editing tools like Magic Editor give you more control over your photos, and Pixel-only software like Made You Look make Google’s handset a more compelling foldable.
ProsSlick designBetter cameras than the competitionThinner and lighter than previous modelRuns cooler than beforeConsStill expensiveSome software quirks$1,799 at GoogleExplore More Buying Options$1,799 at AmazonSam Rutherford for Engadget88100Expert ScoreHonorable mentionOnePlus 13Read our full OnePlus 13 review Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite | Display: 6.8-inch OLED, 120Hz, 4,500 nits max brightness | Cameras: Rear array (50MP wide, 50MP ultrawide, 50MP telephoto), 32MP front camera | Battery: 6,000mAh While the OnePlus 13 features some basic AI features like Google’s Circle to Search and Gemini assistant, it’s really just an old-fashioned flagship in all the best ways.That’s because instead of focusing on machine learning, OnePlus crammed the phone with tons of top-notch hardware.It sports a 6.8-inch OLED display with an incredible peak brightness of up to 4,500 nits.
The OP13 also offers excellent performance thanks to Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite chip, along with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage.There are also three 50-MP rear cameras including one with a 3x telephoto zoom and a massive 6,000 mAh battery that’s bigger than what you get in practically all of its competitors.OnePlus didn’t skimp on the phone’s design either, as the OP13 still comes with the company’s signature Alert Slider.
Plus, if you opt for the blue or white variants, you’ll get a durable and very touchable vegan leather back that helps the phone stand out among all its glass brick rivals.But the best part is that starting at $900, it costs less than an equivalent Galaxy S25+ too.ProsClass-leading battery lifeSuper-bright displayGreat performanceAttractive designConsPhoto quality could be a touch betterOnly six years of software support instead of sevenNeeds a case to fully support magnetic Qi2 accessories$900 at OnePlus
