The very best Android telephones to purchase in 2024

The Android ecosystem is all about selection. Whereas iPhone homeowners have a smaller pool of latest units to choose from when it’s time to improve, there’s a a lot wider vary of decisions on Android. You need unimaginable digital camera zoom? A built-in stylus? A cellphone that runs an entire desktop atmosphere whenever you plug it right into a monitor? You will discover it on Android. Heck, yow will discover all of that in a single gadget.

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 comfy spending, and what your definition of a “reasonably sized phone” is. (I’ve my very own, personally.)

As you sift by means of the choices, you’ll virtually definitely come throughout tech’s favourite buzzphrase of the 12 months: AI. Typically talking, AI has but to actually impress me on a cellphone. The Pixel 9 collection has some probably 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. This stuff are nothing to sneeze at! However none of it feels just like the platform shift that the large tech firms preserve promising. Greatest to not put an excessive amount of inventory in any firm’s AI claims simply but.

For those who stay 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 most of the choices as you’ll discover in Asia and Europe — manufacturers like Huawei, Xiaomi, Honor, and Oppo simply aren’t obtainable 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 “for free” from their wi-fi service. For those who can handle it, shopping for a cellphone unlocked offers you essentially the most flexibility and freedom if you find yourself wanting to vary 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 glad together with your service 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 change plans to money in on the deal. 

Nonetheless you go about it, you have got some improbable choices on your subsequent Android cellphone.

Display screen: 6.3-inch 1080p 120Hz OLED / Processor: Tensor G4 / Cameras: 50-megapixel f/1.7 primary 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 best 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 if you happen to don’t want a telephoto digital camera or the largest display, then that is the Android cellphone to get.

The Pixel 9 comes with some vital quality-of-life enhancements like a sooner fingerprint scanner for unlocking the cellphone. The digital camera is as dependable as ever, and if you happen to’re into AI picture modifying methods, boy does this cellphone have ‘em. There’s a brand new Screenshots app that acts as a spot to retailer all the info that may in any other case be misplaced at sea in your digital camera roll, and it makes use of AI to parse info out and make it searchable. Kinda useful.

Even with out AI, this is a wonderful cellphone. It’s additionally designed to go the space, with seven years of promised OS updates, which very possible 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 suggestion for anybody who simply desires a pleasant Android cellphone that works.

Learn my full Google Pixel 9 overview.

Display screen: 6.8-inch 1440p 120Hz OLED / Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 / Cameras: 200-megapixel primary 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 every little thing you can ask for in a cellphone — nicely, at the very least 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 cellphone, anyplace.

So why am I somewhat underwhelmed? For starters, Samsung swapped final 12 months’s 10x telephoto digital camera for a higher-resolution 5x digital camera that makes use of in-sensor crop to zoom to 10x. This can be a smart transfer, and pictures at 10x look wonderful, 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 change to titanium for the body hasn’t made it any lighter.

Private emotions concerning the zoom lens apart, the S24 Extremely remains to be principally peerless. Its much-touted AI options are wonderful, but when there’s one factor that makes it well worth the improve, it’s the display. 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 cellphone.

Learn my full Samsung Galaxy S24 Extremely overview.

Display screen: 6.82-inch 1440p 120Hz LTPO OLED / Processor: Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Cameras: 50-megapixel f/1.6 primary 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 just a few years and somewhat soul-searching, OnePlus is again to its roots. The OnePlus 12 is a wonderful gadget with high-end efficiency with a aggressive value: $799 for the bottom mannequin with a hefty 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage.

For that value, you get a crisp 1440p 6.8-inch show, a top-tier Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, and a succesful digital camera. It helps wi-fi charging, one thing that earlier OnePlus flagships have skipped. Battery efficiency is improbable, 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. A number of 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 ideal cellphone, the OnePlus 12 is perhaps the one.

Learn my full OnePlus 12 overview.

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

Does anybody actually want a folding cellphone? Most likely not. However utilizing one is very good, and the Pixel 9 Professional Fold is the nicest book-style foldable I’ve used thus far. 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. However it’s a pleasure to make use of, each as a daily cellphone with the duvet display and whenever you unfold the large internal display.

The 9 Professional Fold is Google’s second folding cellphone, following up the passport-shaped Pixel Fold with a format that feels way more acquainted. The outer display measures 6.3 inches on the diagonal, however extra importantly, the ratio is similar 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 strategy.

That mentioned, the 9 Professional Fold isn’t with out compromises. The digital camera system isn’t fairly pretty much as good as what you get within the different 9 Professional telephones. The outer display isn’t as sharp or vibrant 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 shall be very rewarding.

Learn my full Google Pixel 9 Professional Fold overview.

Display screen: 6.7-inch 1080p 120Hz OLED / Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 / Cameras: 50-megapixel F/1.9 primary 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 (nicely, lots flashy), then the Cellphone 2 is a straightforward choose.

It provides a superb 6.7-inch display, nice day by day efficiency and battery life, and a succesful digital camera system. However that’s the standard stuff — what’s uncommon concerning the Cellphone 2 is its set of LED mild strips on the again panel. They illuminate in combos known 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 slightly than totally proof against water submersion like nearly all different telephones over $500. It’s additionally not totally supported on Verizon’s community, which takes it out of competition 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 selection. One factor’s for positive — it undoubtedly stands out from the gang.

Learn my full Nothing Cellphone 2 overview.

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 reduce for a suggestion.

• 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 document for software program updates isn’t nice, so the Z Flip 6 is a safer wager for a flip cellphone.
• The OnePlus Open can also 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 — an important a part of the folding cellphone expertise. However it received’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 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.

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