The perfect Android telephones to purchase in 2024

The Android ecosystem is all about alternative. Whereas iPhone homeowners have a smaller pool of recent gadgets to select from when it’s time to improve, there’s a a lot wider vary of decisions on Android. You need unimaginable digicam zoom? A built-in stylus? A telephone that runs a whole desktop surroundings if you plug it right into a monitor? You could find it on Android. Heck, you will discover all of that in a single system.

On the flip aspect, all that alternative could make for some exhausting selections. Right here’s the place I’d like to assist; I’ve examined a complete boatload of current Android telephones, and I believe there are some actual winners within the present batch. It’s all a matter of what you’re searching for, what you’re comfy spending, and what your definition of a “moderately sized telephone” is. (I’ve my very own, personally.)

As you sift by means of the choices, you’ll virtually actually come throughout tech’s favourite buzzphrase of the yr: AI. Typically talking, AI has but to actually impress me on a telephone. The Pixel 9 sequence has some probably helpful options, like a brand new Screenshots app that makes use of AI to tag related information in metadata, and Galaxy gadgets 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 large tech corporations preserve promising. Finest to not put an excessive amount of inventory in any firm’s AI claims simply but.

For those who reside 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 practically 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 gadgets 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 “free of charge” from their wi-fi provider. For those who can handle it, shopping for a telephone unlocked gives you probably the most flexibility and freedom if you find yourself wanting to alter carriers within the close to future. Cellphone producers additionally provide financing and trade-in offers to make fee extra manageable. However if you happen to’re comfortable together with your provider and the free telephone on provide is the one you actually need, by all means, take the free telephone. Simply ensure you perceive the phrases, particularly if it’s essential to change plans to money in on the deal. 

Nevertheless you go about it, you will have some unbelievable choices on your subsequent Android telephone.

Display: 6.3-inch 1080p 120Hz OLED / Processor: Tensor G4 / Cameras: 50-megapixel f/1.7 important 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 if you happen to don’t want a telephoto digicam or the most important display screen, 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 if you happen to’re into AI photograph modifying tips, boy does this telephone have ‘em. There’s a brand new Screenshots app that acts as a spot to retailer the entire 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 superb 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 simple advice for anybody who simply needs a pleasant Android telephone that works.

Learn my full Google Pixel 9 evaluation.

Display: 6.8-inch 1440p 120Hz OLED / Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 / Cameras: 200-megapixel important 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 identify: Extremely. It has all the things you can ask for in a telephone — nicely, not less than one which doesn’t fold in half. There’s a stylus, two telephoto cameras, an enormous battery, and among the best ding dang screens on any telephone, anyplace.

So why am I a little bit 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 photographs at 10x look high-quality, 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 swap to titanium for the body hasn’t made it any lighter.

Private emotions concerning the zoom lens apart, the S24 Extremely remains to be mainly peerless. Its much-touted AI options are high-quality, but when there’s one factor that makes it well worth the improve, it’s the display screen. Its anti-glare coating and boosted most brightness make it so comfy to make use of outdoors it’s virtually magic. That’s hardly a flowery new tech characteristic, however the Galaxy S24 Extremely is hardly any previous telephone.

Learn my full Samsung Galaxy S24 Extremely evaluation.

Display: 6.82-inch 1440p 120Hz LTPO OLED / Processor: Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Cameras: 50-megapixel f/1.6 important 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 a couple of years and a little bit soul-searching, OnePlus is again to its roots. The OnePlus 12 is a superb system 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 unbelievable, too — energy customers can get by means of a full day, and light-weight customers can stretch it to 2.

What stands out concerning the OnePlus 12, although, may simply be what’s not right here: a bunch of AI options. Truthfully? That’s form of refreshing. Among the AI options Google and Samsung are busy transport 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 is perhaps the one.

Learn my full OnePlus 12 evaluation.

Display: 8.0-inch 2076p 120Hz OLED inside display screen, 6.3-inch 1080p 120Hz OLED cowl display screen / Processor: Tensor G4 / Cameras: 48-megapixel f/1.7 important with OIS, 10.8-megapixel 5x telephoto with OIS, 10.5-megapixel ultrawide, 10-megapixel selfie (cowl display screen), 10-megapixel inside selfie digicam / Battery: 4,650mAh / Charging: 21W wired, 7.5W wi-fi / Climate resistance: IPX8

Does anybody actually want a folding telephone? Most likely not. However utilizing one is terribly good, and the Pixel 9 Professional Fold is the nicest book-style foldable I’ve used up to now. It’s expensive, it’s nonetheless bulkier than a slab-style telephone, and its cameras aren’t fairly as good as the opposite Pixel 9 Professional telephones. Nevertheless it’s a pleasure to make use of, each as an everyday telephone with the duvet display screen and if you unfold the large inside display screen.

The 9 Professional Fold is Google’s second folding telephone, following up the passport-shaped Pixel Fold with a format that feels rather more acquainted. The outer display screen measures 6.3 inches on the diagonal, however extra importantly, the ratio is identical 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 favor 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 screen isn’t as sharp or vivid 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’ll’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 will likely be very rewarding.

Learn my full Google Pixel 9 Professional Fold evaluation.

Display: 6.7-inch 1080p 120Hz OLED / Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 / Cameras: 50-megapixel F/1.9 important 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 provide the perfect worth proposition in its upper-midrange class. But when it’s fashion you’re after and one thing a little bit flashy (nicely, so much flashy), then the Cellphone 2 is a simple choose.

It affords 6.7-inch display screen, 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 mild strips on the again panel. They illuminate in combos referred to as “glyphs,” and you’ll set them to warn you 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 relatively 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 rivalry 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 superb alternative. One factor’s for certain — it positively stands out from the gang.

Learn my full Nothing Cellphone 2 evaluation.

There are lots of extra nice Android gadgets that weren’t coated right here, and some are value calling out that didn’t fairly make the minimize for a advice.

• First off, there’s the Galaxy Z Flip 6, Samsung’s wonderful 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 duvet display screen extra simply — however Motorola’s monitor document for software program updates isn’t nice, so the Z Flip 6 is a safer guess for a flip telephone.
• The OnePlus Open can be one other good book-style foldable choice. It’s skinny and light-weight, and the software program consists of some considerate approaches to multitasking — a vital a part of the folding telephone expertise. Nevertheless it gained’t be supported with software program updates for so long as the Pixel 9 Professional Fold or the Galaxy Z Fold 6.
• Final however not least, there’s the Google Pixel 8A. For those who actually wish to maximize the return in your funding, it’s exhausting to beat Google’s newest midrange telephone. It covers all of the fundamentals for $499 whereas providing seven years of software program help.

Replace, September thirteenth: Changed the Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus with the Google Pixel 9 as the very best Android telephone for most individuals; changed the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 with the Google Pixel 9 Professional as the very best folding telephone.