There’s one clear perk that Android has over iOS and that’s selection on the subject of the telephones you need to select from. Apple has made the iPhone is the one sport on the town for iOS, however with Google’s working system, there are dozens of decisions on the market from producers like Samsung, Motorola, OnePlus and others. However that additionally means it may be tough to determine which gadget is finest for you when it comes time to improve, or if you wish to change from iPhone to Android within the new 12 months. In case you’re in search of a brand new telephone and don’t know the place to begin, we’ve received you coated with a number of the perfect Android telephones for each funds.
What to search for in a brand new Android telephone
Efficiency
In relation to choosing our favourite Android telephones, the principle issues we search for are fairly easy: good efficiency (each compute and AI), a pleasant show, stable design, sharp cameras, lengthy battery life and a major dedication to ongoing software program assist. For efficiency, not solely will we have a look at benchmarks and different metrics, however we additionally consider telephones based mostly on responsiveness. No matter whether or not you’re studying, textual content messaging, scrolling by means of social media or taking part in a sport, nobody needs a gadget that feels sluggish.
Show
In relation to shows, we typically want OLED panels that may produce wealthy, saturated colours with not less than 600 nits of brightness, although lots of our high mid-range and high-end telephones can hit 1,000 nits or extra. And extra just lately, most of our favourite units additionally assist screens with quick refresh charges of 90Hz or 120Hz, which provides an additional stage of smoothness and fluidity.
Design
Now we are going to admit there’s a little bit of subjectivity when deciding which telephones look the perfect, however there are different design elements like mud and water resistance or display sturdiness that may make an enormous distinction to long-term survival. It’s additionally necessary to contemplate issues like assist for wi-fi charging, energy sharing (aka reverse wi-fi charging) and UWB connectivity, which may have an effect on how your telephone interacts together with your different units.
Cameras
Clearly, for photographs we’re in search of sharp, colourful pictures in each vibrant and low-light situations. And we would like video clips with excessive dynamic vary, wealthy audio and clean picture stabilization. Further cameras for ultra-wide and telephoto lenses are a plus. One of the best cameras must also embody options like devoted night time modes, assist for varied video recording resolutions, and extra picture modes like timelapse, sluggish movement and extra.
Battery and software program
Lastly, by way of longevity, we’re in search of all-day battery life on units that additionally delivered nice outcomes on our native video rundown check (not less than 16 hours on a cost, however extra is clearly higher). Wi-fi charging capabilities have turn into nearly ubiquitous over the previous few years, and most of our high picks have this further perk. Quick-charging is offered on some Android telephones, too. Lastly, with folks holding onto their telephones longer than ever, we prefer to see corporations decide to not less than three years of software program assist, upgrades and common safety updates.
Learn our full Google Pixel 9 Professional and Pixel 9 Professional XL evaluate
Processor: Google Tensor G4 | Show: 6.3-inch Tremendous Actua, as much as 120Hz | Cameras: Rear array (50MP huge, 48MP ultrawide with Macro Focus, 48MP 5x telephoto lens), 42MP twin PD selfie entrance digital camera with autofocus | Battery: 4,700mAh
Lastly, a smaller Pixel Professional. Google’s Pixel collection has lengthy been among the best Android telephones round, with the Professional mannequin being the superior model. But it surely was at all times somewhat too massive and too cumbersome for these of us who’ve smaller palms or need our telephones to slot in our pockets. Cue the Pixel 9 Professional, which is the littler model of the Pixel 9 Professional XL. As a substitute of a comparatively giant 6.8-inch display like that on its larger sibling, the usual Professional has a 6.3-inch show that’s straightforward to maneuver. No extra worrying about dropping your Pixel Professional simply since you fumbled whereas attempting to succeed in the highest of the display!
Higher but, with the Pixel 9 Professional, Google hasn’t sacrificed any key function to get to the smaller dimension, which means you may discover the identical digital camera setup and efficiency in each handsets. The one actual variations are the display dimension, battery and charging speeds, because the non-XL mannequin recharges at a barely slower fee. However the Pixel 9 Professional can also be a lot longer-lasting than the XL, notching nearly 25 hours on our battery check.
These distinctions apart, the Pixel 9 Professional lineup is our favourite Android telephone due to its top-notch digital camera efficiency, intriguing AI options and a basic grown-up vibe. Whereas earlier Pixel flagships had a colourful, blocky design that felt contemporary, this 12 months’s units really feel stable and refined. And, dare we are saying it, nearly like iPhones. With out the digital camera bars, they might be fairly laborious to inform other than Apple’s telephones.
Presumably as a result of it is grown up a lot through the years, however the Pixel telephones now value the identical as iPhones. The Pixel 9 Professional and iPhone 15 Professional each begin at $999, and although a few of us have come to consider Google’s handsets because the extra competitively priced possibility, this 12 months’s mannequin may be ok to justify a premium value. In case you nonetheless need one thing from the Pixel 9 household however do not need to pay $1,000, the bottom Pixel 9 continues to be a stable handset for most individuals. However because it stands, the Pixel 9 Professional is the perfect Android handset cash should buy. — Cherlynn Low, Deputy Editor, Critiques
- Nice digital camera options and improved telephoto digital camera
- A 12 months of Gemini Superior without spending a dime
- Unimaginable battery life
- A ravishing, vibrant display that’s straightforward to make use of open air
- Tensor G4 runs cooler than its predecessor
- Slower charging speeds than the XL
- Not the perfect telephone for gaming
Picture by Sam Rutherford / Engadget
Learn our full Google Pixel 8a evaluate
Processor: Google Tensor G3 | Show: 6.1-inch 1,080 x 2,400 OLED, as much as 120Hz | Cameras: Rear array (64MP huge, 13MP ultrawide), 13MP entrance digital camera | Battery: 4,49mAh
Google’s A-series Pixels have lengthy been a few of the finest midrange telephones available on the market. However now with the addition of a Tensor G3 chip, the Pixel 8a helps the identical highly effective and versatile AI capabilities you get on Google’s flagship telephones together with glorious cameras, a stunning 120Hz OLED show and nice battery life. The gadget additionally comes with creature comforts like IP67 mud and water resistance and handy (however sluggish) 7.5-watt Qi wi-fi charging. However most significantly, beginning at $499, it may be among the best offers available on the market.
- Colourful 120Hz OLED show
- Sturdy battery life
- Wonderful cameras
- Nice worth
- Gradual wi-fi charging
- Thick bezels
Picture by Sam Rutherford / Engadget
Learn our full Samsung Galaxy S24 Extremely evaluate
Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 | Show: 6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED QHD+, as much as 120Hz | Cameras: Rear array (200MP, Twin Pixel AF, Digital Zoom 100x, 50MP Macro, 12MP UW), 12MP entrance digital camera | Battery: 5,000mAh
For its newest super-premium telephone, Samsung gave the S24 Extremely a extra sturdy titanium body, quicker efficiency due to a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip and a for much longer battery life. The corporate additionally tweaked its longest telephoto lens with a 5x optical zoom so it is extra usable in a wider vary of conditions. However the largest improve is a brand new full suite of AI instruments, which incorporates the power to proofread texts, edit photos and transcribe recordings. And whenever you tack on the perfect show accessible on a telephone in the present day and a built-in stylus, you’ve gotten a really compelling flagship handset. Sadly, beginning at $1,300, the S24 Extremely is a bit too costly to suggest to anybody with out deep pockets.
Picture by Sam Rutherford/Engadget
Learn our full Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 evaluate
Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 | Show: 7.6-inch QXGA+ full show, 6.3-inch HD+ cowl show | Cameras: Rear array (50MP huge, 12MP ultrawide, 10dMP telephoto), 10MP (Cowl) + 4MP UDC (Major) entrance digital camera | Battery: 4,400mAh
Whereas we’d have favored to see some extra drastic design adjustments, Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 6 stays some of the versatile and well-rounded examples of an enormous, premium foldable telephone. Its new Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip delivers robust efficiency and improved vitality effectivity whereas its Enhanced Armor Aluminum chassis is noticeably lighter than earlier than (and a bit extra sturdy too). There’s additionally a brand new ultra-wide angle digital camera sensor and a boatload of AI-powered options scattered all through the telephone. Plus, the Z Fold 6 stays one of many few foldables with native stylus assist, although you’ll have to pay further for one among Samsung’s S Pens. Maybe the largest draw back is that Samsung’s newest flagship now prices $100 greater than its predecessor.
- Tremendous vibrant and colourful show
- Even lighter chassis
- Nice battery life
- Native stylus assist
- Much more costly than earlier than
- Identical major digital camera because the earlier two Z Folds
- S Pen not included
- Charging speeds might be quicker
