There’s one clear perk that Android has over iOS and that’s selection in terms of the telephones it’s a must to select from. Apple has made the iPhone is the one recreation on the town for iOS, however with Google’s working system, there are dozens of selections on the market from producers like Samsung, Motorola, OnePlus and others. However that additionally means it may be tough to resolve 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 yr. For those who’re in search of a brand new cellphone and don’t know the place to start out, we’ve obtained you lined with a choice of one of the best Android telephones for each finances.
What to search for in a brand new Android cellphone
Efficiency
With regards to selecting our favourite Android telephones, the primary 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 help. For efficiency, not solely will we take a look at benchmarks and different metrics, however we additionally consider telephones primarily based on responsiveness. No matter whether or not you’re studying, textual content messaging, scrolling by social media or enjoying a recreation, nobody needs a gadget that feels sluggish.
Show
With regards to shows, we usually desire OLED panels that may produce wealthy, saturated colours with at the very least 600 nits of brightness, although a lot of our prime mid-range and high-end telephones can hit 1,000 nits or extra. And extra lately, most of our favourite gadgets additionally help screens with quick refresh charges of 90Hz or 120Hz, which provides an additional degree of smoothness and fluidity.
Design
Now we’ll admit there’s a little bit of subjectivity when deciding which telephones look one of the best, however there are different design points like mud and water resistance or display sturdiness that may make an enormous distinction to long-term survival. It’s additionally necessary to think about issues like help for wi-fi charging, energy sharing (aka reverse wi-fi charging) and UWB connectivity, which may have an effect on how your cellphone interacts along with your different gadgets.
Cameras
Clearly, for images we’re in search of sharp, colourful photographs in each brilliant and low-light situations. And we wish video clips with excessive dynamic vary, wealthy audio and clean picture stabilization. Additional cameras for ultra-wide and telephoto lenses are a plus. The most effective cameras also needs to embody options like devoted night time modes, help for varied video recording resolutions, and extra photograph modes like timelapse, gradual movement and extra.
Battery and software program
Lastly, by way of longevity, we’re in search of all-day battery life on gadgets that additionally delivered nice outcomes on our native video rundown take a look at (at the very least 16 hours on a cost, however extra is clearly higher). Wi-fi charging capabilities have develop into virtually ubiquitous over the previous few years, and most of our prime picks have this additional perk. Quick-charging is obtainable on some Android telephones, too. Lastly, with individuals holding onto their telephones longer than ever, we prefer to see firms decide to at the very least three years of software program help, upgrades and common safety updates.
Learn our full Google Pixel 9 Professional and Pixel 9 Professional XL evaluation
Processor: Google Tensor G4 | Show: 6.3-inch Tremendous Actua, as much as 120Hz | Cameras: Rear array (50MP extensive, 48MP ultrawide with Macro Focus, 48MP 5x telephoto lens), 42MP twin PD selfie entrance digicam with autofocus | Battery: 4,700mAh
Lastly, a smaller Pixel Professional. Google’s Pixel collection has lengthy been the most effective Android telephones round, with the Professional mannequin being the superior model. But it surely was all the time just a little too large 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 an alternative of a comparatively massive 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 making an attempt to achieve the highest of the display!
Higher but, with the Pixel 9 Professional, Google hasn’t sacrificed any key characteristic to get to the smaller dimension, that means you may discover the identical digicam 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 be a lot longer-lasting than the XL, notching virtually 25 hours on our battery take a look at.
These distinctions apart, the Pixel 9 Professional lineup is our favourite Android cellphone due to its top-notch digicam efficiency, intriguing AI options and a common grown-up vibe. Whereas earlier Pixel flagships had a colourful, blocky design that felt contemporary, this yr’s gadgets really feel stable and refined. And, dare we are saying it, virtually like iPhones. With out the digicam bars, they might be fairly laborious to inform aside from Apple’s telephones.
Presumably as a result of it is grown up a lot through the years, however the Pixel telephones now price 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 yr’s mannequin is perhaps adequate to justify a premium worth. For those who 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 one of the best Android handset cash can purchase. — Cherlynn Low, Deputy Editor, Opinions
- Nice digicam options and improved telephoto digicam
- A yr of Gemini Superior free of charge
- Unimaginable battery life
- A stupendous, brilliant display that’s straightforward to make use of outside
- Tensor G4 runs cooler than its predecessor
- Slower charging speeds than the XL
- Not one of the best cellphone for gaming
Picture by Sam Rutherford / Engadget
Learn our full Google Pixel 8a evaluation
Processor: Google Tensor G3 | Show: 6.1-inch 1,080 x 2,400 OLED, as much as 120Hz | Cameras: Rear array (64MP extensive, 13MP ultrawide), 13MP entrance digicam | Battery: 4,49mAh
Google’s A-series Pixels have lengthy been a number 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 beautiful 120Hz OLED show and nice battery life. The gadget additionally comes with creature comforts like IP67 mud and water resistance and handy (however gradual) 7.5-watt Qi wi-fi charging. However most significantly, beginning at $499, it is perhaps the most effective 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 evaluation
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 digicam | Battery: 5,000mAh
For its newest super-premium cellphone, Samsung gave the S24 Extremely a extra sturdy titanium body, quicker efficiency because of 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 flexibility to proofread texts, edit pictures and transcribe recordings. And whenever you tack on one of the best show out there on a cellphone right now and a built-in stylus, you might have 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 evaluation
Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 | Show: 7.6-inch QXGA+ full show, 6.3-inch HD+ cowl show | Cameras: Rear array (50MP extensive, 12MP ultrawide, 10dMP telephoto), 10MP (Cowl) + 4MP UDC (Principal) entrance digicam | Battery: 4,400mAh
Whereas we might have preferred 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 cellphone. 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 digicam sensor and a boatload of AI-powered options scattered all through the cellphone. Plus, the Z Fold 6 stays one of many few foldables with native stylus help, although you’ll have to pay additional for one in all Samsung’s S Pens. Maybe the most important draw back is that Samsung’s newest flagship now prices $100 greater than its predecessor.
- Tremendous brilliant and colourful show
- Even lighter chassis
- Nice battery life
- Native stylus help
- Much more costly than earlier than
- Similar predominant digicam because the earlier two Z Folds
- S Pen not included
- Charging speeds could possibly be quicker
