Looking for the best Androids in 2024? We’ve collated a list of the best, so you don’t have any confusion over which Android to grab this year.
Unlike iPhones, Android phones come in all shapes and sizes, and across all price categories. You can get yourself a great smartphone no matter what your budget is. If you’re feeling generous, you can opt for a top-of-the-line Samsung or Google phone. On a lighter budget? You still have plenty of solid options to consider.
However, with the amount of Android phones out there, picking the best one can be overwhelming. You have to take a lot of things into consideration while choosing the best Android phone. Does it have a dependable processor? Is the software smooth and bloat-free? Are the display and cameras good?
Even if a phone checks all the above, you still have to make sure the phone has a decent battery life and charges fast. We already did our research so you don’t have to. Here are the best Android phones you can get in 2024.
1. Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra: Best overall handset
- Processor: Snapdragon 8 Gen 3
- Display: 6.8-inch AMOLED
- Battery: 5000 mAh
- OS: Android 14
- Camera: 4x rear( 200MP+50MP+10MP+ 12MP) + 12MP front
- MSRP: starts at $1,299
| Pros | Cons |
| Display and performance | Too expensive |
| Long battery life | Big and heavy |
| Impressive cameras |
The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is the latest and greatest smartphone from the Korean company. It has everything you’d want in a smartphone, whether it’s a big display or a particularly impressive camera setup. The Galaxy S24 Ultra is not an earth-shattering upgrade over the Galaxy S23 Ultra. Many of its features are the same as last year, but Samsung made changes in the areas that needed a change.
For instance, the processor has been upgraded to Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, the latest from Qualcomm. The camera system has also seen upgrades. The core setup is the same as earlier with a 200MP wide camera, 10MP telephoto, and a 12MP ultrawide lens, however, there’s a new 50MP periscope telephoto sensor with 5x optical zoom.
Just like the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max, the S24 Ultra now features a titanium frame. It has a large 6.8-inch AMOLED display that gets as bright as 2600 nits and offers a 120Hz refresh rate. With LTPO tech, HDR10+, the Galaxy S24 Ultra has the best display you will see on a smartphone.
The smartphone also features a large 5,000mAh battery with support for 45W charge charging. While it is not the fastest charging phone you can get, it’s still pretty good. There’s 15W wireless charging as well. Samsung has also packed a bunch of AI features on the phone, which were missing on the S23 Ultra.
2. OnePlus 12: The best budget flagship
- Processor: Snapdragon 8 Gen 3
- Display: 6.8-inch AMOLED
- Battery: 5400 mAh
- OS: Android 14
- Camera: 3x rear (50MP+48MP+ 64MP) + 32MP front
- MSRP: starts at $799
| Pros | Cons |
| Display and performance | Lacks IP68 rating |
| Long battery life | No new AI feature |
| Good-looking design |
If you don’t wish to pay $1300 for a Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, the $800 OnePlus 12 is your best chance to get an equally flagship experience on a budget. The smartphone packs the same Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip as the Galaxy S24 Ultra. It offers a lag-free experience while performing any task, whether you’re playing demanding games like Genshin Impact or scrolling through various apps.
The OnePlus 12 packs a large 5400mAh battery and 80W charging support. Plus, it gets 50W wireless charging, which is more than any other phone in this list. The OnePlus 12 will also not disappoint you with its cameras, featuring a 50MP primary camera, a 48MP ultrawide, and a 64MP telephoto lens for 3x optical zoom.
Another major highlight of the OnePlus 12 is its display. It features a 6.82-inch display, larger than the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra. The LTPO AMOLED panel supports a 120Hz refresh rate and a peak brightness of 4500 nits, making it brighter than any other phone available in the US.
3. OnePlus Open: The best foldable
- Processor: Snapdragon 8 Gen 2
- Display: 7.82-inch AMOLED (unfolded)
- Battery: 4805 mAh
- OS: Android 13
- Camera: 3x rear( 48MP+64MP+48MP) + 20MP front
- MSRP: starts at $1,699
| Pros | Cons |
| Display and performance | No wireless charging |
| Thin and light | Lacks full water resistance |
| Impressive cameras | Price is too high considering missing features |
OnePlus has done a great job lately. The OnePlus Open is the company’s first attempt at making a foldable smartphone. It is also the first true competitor to the Galaxy Z Fold line and even costs a bit less.
The OnePlus Open is an incredibly well-built smartphone with top-notch specs across the board. It serves as a phone, a tablet, and a portable camera. And it excels in everything. The OnePlus Open runs on the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip. It’s not the latest but there’s no foldable with Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 as of writing this.
The device has a large 4805 mAh battery which lasts long, whether the phone is open or closed. It supports 67W wired charging—more than any Samsung or Google foldable. The Hasselblad cameras are thoroughly impressive, delivering overall impressive photo and video quality, day and night.
It has a 7.82-inch display when open and 6.31 inches when closed. Both displays support 120Hz LTPO3 refresh rate and 2,800 nits peak brightness.
4. Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5: The best compact handset
- Processor: Snapdragon 8 Gen 2
- Display: 6.7-inch AMOLED (unfolded)
- Battery: 3,700 mAh
- OS: Android 13
- Camera: 2x rear( 12MP+12MP) + 10MP front
- MSRP: starts at $999
| Pros | Cons |
| Useful cover screen | Poor battery life |
| Thin and light | Durability issues |
| 5 years of software updates |
The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 isn’t exactly a compact phone. It has a 6.7-inch display, but fold it, and you’ve got a neat 3.4-inch cover screen to handle nearly everything you’d do with the phone open. The Galaxy Z Flip 5 is solidly constructed with its glass meets metal trim package. Plus, the smartphone boasts an IPX8 rating, so getting it wet is no cause for concern.
The Galaxy Z Flip 5 is a powerful smartphone, featuring the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. It holds its ground whether you want to multitask or engage in serious gaming. The phone comes with a dual main camera system consisting of a wide and an ultra-wide shooter, and these produce solid videos and photos.
One area where we feel the smartphone could have been better is the battery life. It has the same 3,700mAh battery size as the Flip 4. That’s a decent size, giving you a single day of use, but don’t expect more than that. It supports 25W wired and 15W wireless charging.
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5. Pixel 7a: The best budget Android
- Processor: Tensor G2
- Display: 6.1-inch OLED
- Battery: 4,385 mAh
- OS: Android 13
- Camera: 2x rear(64MP+13MP) + 13MP front
- MSRP: starts at $499
| Pros | Cons |
| Good software update policy | Fingerprint sensor is bad |
| Great cameras | Display is lackluster |
| Wireless charging |
The Pixel “A” series has been rocking the budget phone scene, and the Pixel 7a, continues the trend. Even though it’s an entry-level device, the Pixel 7a packs a punch with the same Google Tensor G2 chip found in the pricier Pixel 7. It boasts a fresh 64-megapixel main camera and a smooth 90Hz screen for seamless scrolling.
But that’s not all – the Pixel 7a throws in some cool extras like wireless charging and a solid battery. Sporting a 6.1-inch display, it’s perfect for those on the lookout for a compact smartphone that doesn’t compromise on features.
6. Pixel 8 Pro: Best AI smartphone
- Processor: Tensor G3
- Display: 6.7-inch OLED
- Battery: 5050 mAh
- OS: Android 14
- Camera: 3x rear(50MP + 48MP + 48MP) + 10.5MP front
- MSRP: starts at $999
| Pros | Cons |
| Seven years of OS upgrades promised | Temperature sensor is useless |
| Great cameras | Tensor G3 runs hot |
| Loads of AI features |
The Pixel 8 Pro is the best AI phone you can buy right now. Google has always been the first to integrate AI-powered software features into its phones, it has gone all in with the Pixel 8 Pro. The smartphone gives you access to Google Gemini, which replaces Google Assistant as your voice interface, with control over numerous other Google apps and features.
The smartphone also comes loaded with AI camera features such as Magic Eraser for visual and audio content, Best Take to capture multiple pictures and swap faces with the best expressions, and an AI recorder app for recording and note-taking.
The Pixel 8 Pro not only has software features but also impressive hardware. It packs Google’s latest Tensor G3 chip and has a 50MP + 48MP + 48MP triple camera setup on the back. The smartphone also packs a large battery.
7. OnePlus 12R: The smartphone with best battery life
- Processor: Snapdragon 8 Gen 2
- Display: 6.7-inch OLED
- Battery: 5500 mAh
- OS: Android 14
- Camera: 3x rear(50MP + 8MP + 2MP) + 16MP front
- MSRP: starts at $499
| Pros | Cons |
| Bright display | Cameras are mediocre |
| Powerful performance for the price | Lacks wireless charging |
| Long-lasting battery |
The OnePlus 12R is the latest budget phone from the brand, and it’s also arguably the best battery phone on the market. It packs a large 5500mAh battery, and during our testing, it managed to offer over 9 hours of screen time. That’s not just after normal usage, but after hours of gaming, video recording, and scrolling through social media.
The battery life you get with OnePlus 12R is significantly more than other devices in this list. The smartphone also boasts impressive charging speed, supporting 80W wireless charging. It charges from 0 to 100% in just half an hour.
The OnePlus 12R also packs a particularly bright OLED display with a peak brightness of 4500 nits. The smartphone is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 and features a triple camera setup for photography.
8. REDMAGIC 9 Pro: The best gaming phone
- Processor: Snapdragon 8 Gen 3
- Display: 6.8-inch AMOLED
- Battery: 6,500 mAh
- OS: Android 14
- Camera: 3x rear(50MP+50MP+ 2MP) + 16MP front
- MSRP: starts at $649
| Pros | Cons |
| Brilliant value proposition | UI needs work |
| Outstanding performance | Selfie camera is bad |
| Superb battery life |
If gaming is your top priority, the REDMAGIC 9 Pro has your name written all over it. This smartphone boasts the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor paired with a whopping 16GB of RAM and a generous 512GB of storage. The real beastly feature is its massive 6,500mAh battery, supporting 80W fast charging.
The display on the REDMAGIC 9 Pro is all-screen – no selfie camera notch, it’s cleverly tucked inside. It has 1600 nits of peak brightness, meaning it can be easily read under direct sunlight. You also get a 960 Hz multi-finger touch response for smooth gaming.
During our testing, the smartphone sailed through every game without any lag or delay. If you’re someone who takes gaming seriously, the REDMAGIC 9 Pro is tailored just for you.
How to choose the best Android phone
Choosing an Android is not easy. You have an ocean of options to choose from, whether you want a flagship phone or a budget-friendly model. We list some of the key factors to keep in mind when selecting an Android phone.
- Price: When choosing the best Android phone, you need to decide how much you want to spend on a smartphone. Do you want to go all-in with premium features, the best processor, the best display, and the best cameras, or do you want to save some money while still getting sufficient features?
- Form factor: Android smartphones come in all shapes and sizes. Do you want to go for a large phone like the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, or do you want something compact like the Pixel 7a? You also have the option to choose between phones that fold and phones that don’t fold. And if a foldable is what you want, do you prefer a phone that folds like a book or a clamshell?
- Performance: A good Android is one that lets you perform the tasks you want. When picking the best Android phone you need to decide if you want a phone that is powerful enough to run demanding tasks like gaming or if you want something that can tackle normal stuff.
- Storage: Storage is a key factor when picking an Android phone, and how much you need depends on how you use it. If you mostly stream movies and TV shows and don’t use many apps, 128GB should be enough. But if you take lots of photos and videos, have a lot of apps, or play many mobile games, you’ll want at least 256GB or more.
Is an Android phone better than iPhone?
It all depends on you. Both iPhones and Android phones have their pros and cons. If you’re already in the Apple ecosystem with a Mac, iPad, or Apple TV, an iPhone is a natural fit. Everything will work together seamlessly.
If you value flexibility and a wider app selection, Android might be the better choice. Plus, Android phones often come in a wider range of prices and features to fit your budget and needs.
When choosing between the two, think about what matters most to you. Do you want a ton of hardware choices and the ability to customize your phone? Or is long battery life or a great mobile gaming experience more important? Both iPhone and Android offer strong options in these areas. The key is to figure out what features are most important to you, and then choose the phone that best meets your needs.
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