The best Android phones to buy in 2024

The Android ecosystem is all about selection. Whereas iPhone house owners have a smaller pool of recent 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 cellphone that runs an entire desktop surroundings once you plug it right into a monitor? You will discover it on Android. Heck, you will discover all of that in a single machine.

On the flip aspect, all that selection could make for some arduous choices. Right here’s the place I’d like to assist; I’ve examined a complete boatload of latest 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 cellphone” is. (I’ve my very own, personally.)

As you sift by the choices, you’ll nearly actually come throughout tech’s favourite buzzphrase of the yr: AI. Typically talking, AI has but to actually impress me on a cellphone. The Pixel 9 collection has some doubtlessly helpful options, like a brand new Screenshots app that makes use of AI to tag related data in metadata, and Galaxy units can translate a cellphone name for you in actual time. These items are nothing to sneeze at! However none of it feels just like the platform shift that the large tech corporations hold 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 in regards to 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 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 “totally free” from their wi-fi provider. Should you can handle it, shopping for a cellphone 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 cost extra manageable. However when you’re completely happy along with your provider and the free cellphone on provide is the one you actually need, by all means, take the free cellphone. Simply be sure you perceive the phrases, particularly if it’s essential to change plans to money in on the deal. 

Nonetheless you go about it, you’ve got some implausible choices to your subsequent Android cellphone.

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

The Pixel 9 comes with some important quality-of-life enhancements like a quicker fingerprint scanner for unlocking the cellphone. The digicam is as dependable as ever, and when you’re into AI photograph enhancing tips, boy does this cellphone have ‘em. There’s a brand new Screenshots app that acts as a spot to retailer the entire info that may 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 cellphone. It’s additionally designed to go the gap, with seven years of promised OS updates, which very probably means you’ll outgrow the cellphone earlier than Google stops supporting it. Its potential for long-term worth and the standard of the {hardware} make it a straightforward advice for anybody who simply needs a pleasant Android cellphone that works.

Learn my Google Pixel 9 evaluate.

Display: 6.8-inch 1440p 120Hz OLED / Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 / Cameras: 200-megapixel foremost 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 all the pieces you possibly can ask for in a cellphone — properly, not less than one which doesn’t fold in half. There’s a stylus, two telephoto cameras, a large battery, and top-of-the-line ding dang screens on any cellphone, 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. It is a smart transfer, and images at 10x look superb, if not as crisp as they did on the final mannequin. It’s additionally pricier this time round, and it was already an costly cellphone. It’s fairly darn heavy, too, and Samsung’s swap to titanium for the body hasn’t made it any lighter.

Private emotions in regards to the zoom lens apart, the S24 Extremely remains to be principally peerless. Its much-touted AI options are superb, 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 nearly magic. That’s hardly a elaborate new tech characteristic, however the Galaxy S24 Extremely is hardly any outdated cellphone.

Learn my Samsung Galaxy S24 Extremely evaluate.

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

After a number of years and somewhat soul-searching, OnePlus is again to its roots. The OnePlus 12 is a superb 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 implausible, too — energy customers can get by a full day, and light-weight customers can stretch it to 2.

What stands out in regards to the OnePlus 12, although, would possibly 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 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 incredible cellphone, the OnePlus 12 is likely to be the one.

Learn my OnePlus 12 evaluate.

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

Does anybody actually want a folding cellphone? In all probability not. However utilizing one is very good, and the Pixel 9 Professional Fold is the nicest book-style foldable I’ve used up to now. It’s dear, it’s nonetheless bulkier than a slab-style cellphone, 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 cellphone with the duvet display and once you unfold the large inside display.

The 9 Professional Fold is Google’s second folding cellphone, following up the passport-shaped Pixel Fold with a format that feels rather more acquainted. The outer display 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 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’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 might be very rewarding.

Learn my Google Pixel 9 Professional Fold evaluate.

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

It presents 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 in regards to the Cellphone 2 is its set of LED mild strips on the again panel. They illuminate in mixtures known as “glyphs,” and you’ll set them to provide you with a warning to sure notifications. It’s neat however finally isn’t as useful because the system’s customizable always-on show.

On the draw back, the Cellphone 2 is barely splash-resistant fairly than absolutely immune to water submersion like just about 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 wonderful selection. One factor’s for positive — it undoubtedly stands out from the gang.

Learn my Nothing Cellphone 2 evaluate.

There are a lot of extra nice Android units that weren’t lined 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 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 duvet display extra simply — however Motorola’s monitor file for software program updates isn’t nice, so the Z Flip 6 is a safer guess for a flip cellphone. Learn our evaluate.
• The OnePlus Open can also be one other good book-style foldable possibility. It’s skinny and light-weight, and the software program contains some considerate approaches to multitasking — an important a part of the folding cellphone expertise. Nevertheless it received’t be supported with software program updates for so long as the Pixel 9 Professional Fold or the Galaxy Z Fold 6. Learn our evaluate.
• Final however not least, there’s the Google Pixel 8A. Should you actually need to maximize the return in your funding, it’s arduous to beat Google’s newest midrange cellphone. It covers all of the fundamentals for $499 whereas providing seven years of software program help. Learn our evaluate.

Replace, September thirteenth: Changed the Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus with the Google Pixel 9 and the Galaxy Z Fold 6 with the Pixel 9 Professional.