Best Android Phones
Check out the Android phones that we recommend in our list below.
What is an Android phone?
Android phones are high-tech smartphones, that run on the highly customisable, open-source Android operating system (OS). While the Android OS was developed by Google, it powers the majority of handsets from some of the biggest mobile brands including Samsung, Xiaomi and Google, so there’s a wide variety of devices to choose from. With frequent software updates, Android makes sure you always have the latest features from Google, whether that’s privacy and protection updates to keep you safe, or messaging and entertainment updates to keep you better connected.
How to choose the best Android smartphone for me
The best Android smartphone for you will depend on what you use your phone for, and what your price range is. You can choose from a wide range of devices, from the latest Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra to a mid-price range Google Pixel 6 that offers all the fundamentals at a great price. Other things to consider are camera, display, storage, battery life, and performance.
Camera
Both the megapixels of the lenses and the software behind the camera are important to consider when looking at camera specs. If you love to edit your photos and videos to get the perfect shot, consider a Google phone, with Magic Eraser, Photo Unblur and Real Tone. If ultra-wide shots and Macro Photography are your thing, then an HONOR phone could be right for you. For more information, explore our best camera phones
Display
This encompasses screen resolution, brightness, refresh rate, and screen size. Most Android phones have Full HD LCD screens, with top of the range devices having clearer, brighter QHD+ AMOLED screens. Refresh rate is the number of times a second your display can output a new image – this might be important if your activities need a high refresh rate and fluidity, like gaming. If screen size is important to you, many Android phones have large screens of 6-inches or more. If you love the idea of a large screen but want your phone to fit easily in your pocket, a folding phone or a flip phone has the best of both worlds – compact when folded and over 7-inches when unfolded.
Performance
If you multi-task a lot, you might want a phone that has a higher RAM storage. Most recent Android releases have between 6GB and 12GB of RAM, which should cater to most demands. The processor can also impact performance: flagship processors like the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 are perfect for powering 8K video and gaming, with apps feeling faster in general. Other great processors include Google’s Tensor 2 and Samsung’s Exynos chip.
Battery
This can be one of the most important things to consider when buying a new phone. Phones with a large battery, like Google Pixel 8 Pro's 5,050mAh battery, are a great choice, but also consider how well your Android phone can optimise and use battery saving techniques or modes when it needs to. For more information, explore our pick of phones with the best battery life
Storage
Most Android smartphones have anywhere from 64GB to 512GB of storage. If you use a lot of photos and videos, or use your phone to download large files, you might be best going for a higher storage capacity.
The best Android phones of 2024
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
Get yourself a phone at the forefront of innovation. The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra benefits from a quad telephoto zoom camera (including a 200MP main camera), Galaxy AI, and the most powerful processor in any S series phone - secure yours now.
Google Pixel 8 Pro
With a 72-hour battery life¹, the best Pixel Camera yet², and the brightest screen on a Pixel³, Google’s Pixel 8 Pro certainly establishes itself as a powerful and competitive flagship phone. Its upgraded camera system offers improvements in focus, clarity, zoom and the addition of pro-level manual controls like shutter speed and ISO adjustments. AI in phones means there’s no end to editing capabilities: Google AI remove subjects, edit backgrounds and even reduce distracting background noise with Audio Magic Eraser⁴. It also supports in other ways: Live Translate lets you transcribe messages and translate in real time⁵, Call Screen filters out spam calls and can gives you a summary of webpages. Powered by Google’s own Tensor G3 chip, it rivals other processors like Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 - with similar high speeds and performance you can rely on.
HONOR 90 Smart 5G
Share your vibe with HONOR 90 Smart 5G. Enhance your experience with the innovative features of the MagicOS 7.2 operating system, powered by Android 13. Protect your eyes with dark mode, eye protection mode, and Circadian Night Display, which filters blue light for better sleep. With 850 nits peak brightness¹, you can read your favourite ebooks, watch videos, or reply to messages, even if you’re out sunbathing. Immerse yourself in the newest hit songs with the dual speakers, 200% high volume and stereo sound².
Motorola Edge 50 Pro
With a curved endless edge design and aluminium frame, the Motorola Edge 50 Pro is a masterpiece in your pocket. Unlock your full potential with the powerful Snapdragon® 7 Gen 3 processor and 144Hz refresh rate. The durable 4,500mAh battery provides up to 40 hours of power¹, and with 125W TurboPower™ charging, the phone is fully charged in just 18 minutes².
Take mesmerising photos with the 50-megapixel high-resolution camera, the 10-megapixel 3x telephoto camera, the 13-megapixel ultrawide camera, and the 50-megapixel selfie camera. Embrace your creativity with innovative Moto AI-powered features, such as Photo Enhancement Engine, Adaptive Stabilization, Auto Focus Tracking, and Style Sync.
Samsung Galaxy S23 FE
Turn up your android experience to epic with Samsung Galaxy S23 FE. With a brilliant triple camera system and a 6.4-inch AMOLED display, the S23 FE enables you to not only capture life's most intricate moments, but view them in awesome detail. Leave your anxiety about battery life behind, with an all-day battery¹ powering your every move, keeping things stress-free throughout the day. Plus, PowerShare turns your phone into a wireless charger for other Galaxy devices, like Watch6 and Buds FE. Enjoy seamless gaming with Galaxy S23's lightning-fast chipset, giving uninterrupted gaming with real-time light reflections and shadows, making streaming your favourite online content a much smoother experience.
Google Pixel 8a
Powered by Android and Google AI, Pixel 8a is truly unstoppable. The durable 4,492mAh battery, Fast Battery Charging, and Qi wireless charging ensure that you never have to take a break from browsing. With Health Connect, you can easily use your favourite health apps and collect your fitness data in one place¹.
Express your style and personalise your phone screen with custom clocks and lock screen shortcuts². Get quick access to Google Home controls directly from the Android lock screen or Quick Settings³. Plus, Android enables you to use hearing aids and cochlear implants with your phone, making it more accessible for everyone⁴.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5
The latest device in Galaxy’s revolutionary folding range, the Galaxy Z Fold5 ensures you get the best of both worlds: a large 7.6-inch screen when open, and just 13.4mm thick when shut. With a QXGA+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X display, this is Galaxy’s brightest foldable screen ever¹ – enjoy your favourite TV shows, films, and games in crisp detail. The Galaxy Z Fold5 has the Qualcomm Snapdragon® 8 Gen 2 Processor, making it ideal for fuelling your high-powered gameplay or multitasking. In fact, the large screen means you can have up to three windows open simultaneously, with the task bar holding up to twelve apps at once. The Galaxy Z Fold5 has a large battery which can power 73 hours of listening time and 21 hours of watch time². Though it doesn’t have as many lenses as the S Series, the Galaxy Z Fold5 still boasts some impressive camera features like 30x Space Zoom³ and Dual Preview⁴, so your subject can see exactly what you’re seeing when you snap them.
Compare Android phone features
| Screen size | Rear camera | Processor | Battery |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra | 6.8-inch QHD + Dynamic AMOLED | 12MP + 200MP + 10MP + 50MP | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 | 5,000 mAh |
Google Pixel 8 Pro | 6.7-inch LTPO OLED | 50 MP + 48MP telephoto lens | Google Tensor G3 | 5,050 mAh |
Google Pixel 8a | 6.1-inch OLED Smooth Display | 64MP + 13MP | Google Tensor G3 | 4,492 mAh |
Honor 90 Smart 5G | 6.8-inch TFT LCD | 108MP + 2MP + 2MP | Mediatek Dimensity 6020 | 5330 mAh |
Motorola Edge 50 Pro | 6.7-inch pOLED | 50MP + 13MP + 10MP | Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 | 4500 mAh |
Samsung Galaxy S23 FE | 6.4-inch AMOLED | 50 MP + 8MP + 12MP | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 | 4,500 mAh |
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 | 7.6-inch (open), 6.2-inch (closed) | 50MP + 12MP + 10MP | Octa-Core | 4,400mAh |