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 wider vary of decisions on Android. Some Android telephones even fold in half! Think about.
On the flip aspect, all that selection could make for some laborious selections. 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 in search of, what you’re snug spending, and what your definition of a “fairly sized cellphone” is. (I’ve my very own, personally.)
As you sift by way of the choices, you’ll virtually definitely come throughout tech’s favourite buzzphrase of the second: AI. Typically talking, AI has but to essentially impress me on a cellphone. The Pixel 9 collection has some doubtlessly helpful options, like a Screenshots app that makes use of AI to tag related information 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 massive tech corporations preserve promising. Greatest to not put an excessive amount of inventory in any firm’s AI claims simply but.
What I’m in search of
How we check smartphones
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There’s no shortcut to correctly testing a cellphone; I put my private SIM card (bodily or in any other case) in every cellphone I evaluate and dwell with it for at least one full week. I arrange every cellphone from scratch, load it up with my apps, and go about residing my life — stress testing the battery, utilizing GPS navigation on my bike whereas streaming radio, taking rapid-fire portrait mode images of my child — all the pieces I can throw at it. Beginning over with a brand new cellphone each week both appears like a dream or your private hell, relying on how Into Telephones you might be. For me, switching has grow to be so routine that it’s largely painless.
Longevity
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A terrific Android cellphone will go the gap. I search for indicators that the {hardware} and software program will sustain for a few years to come back, together with a powerful IP score for mud and water resistance (IP68 is most well-liked), sturdy glass panels on the back and front, and a sturdy aluminum body quite than plastic. Samsung and Google flagships now supply seven years of OS and safety updates, which as superior. As a naked minimal three years of Android OS model upgrades is most well-liked, together with a complete of 4 or 5 years of safety updates.
A terrific display
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The very best Android telephones have loads of decision to cowl their giant show space, which suggests 1440p, ideally. A quick refresh price of at the very least 120Hz is most well-liked — animations and scrolling look tremendous clean at that price — and even higher if it’s variable all the way down to 1Hz to avoid wasting on battery life.
High quality cameras
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Any cellphone can take an honest photograph in good lighting, however one of the best cellphone cameras can deal with low mild and high-contrast scenes nicely, too. I search for optical (commonest) or sensor-shift (uncommon) picture stabilization, which helps compensate for hand shake and allow slower shutter speeds in low mild to collect extra mild. A telephoto lens is nice to have too, although high-res sensors are beginning to supply higher lossless crop modes that mimic quick zoom lenses nicely.
Wi-fi charging
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Most telephones on this record supply wi-fi charging, although not all do. Lack of wi-fi charging isn’t a whole deal-breaker, however it’s turning into an important function for lots of people because it’s handy for charging many alternative sorts of units.
If you happen to dwell within the US, I’ve some unhealthy information in regards to the Android market, although. For sophisticated causes having to do with “capitalism” and “geopolitics,” we don’t get almost as most of the choices as you’ll discover in Asia and Europe — manufacturers like Huawei, Xiaomi, Honor, and Oppo simply aren’t accessible 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 price acknowledging that most individuals within the US get their telephones “without cost” from their wi-fi provider. If you happen to 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 supply financing and trade-in offers to make cost extra manageable. However should you’re joyful along with your provider and the free cellphone on supply is the one you really need, by all means, take the free cellphone. Simply be sure to perceive the phrases, particularly if you might want to change plans to money in on the deal.
Nevertheless you go about it, you will have some improbable choices to your subsequent Android cellphone.
The very best Android cellphone total
$599
The Good
- Up to date design feels safer in hand
- Quick fingerprint sensor
- Seven years of software program and OS updates
The Dangerous
- No telephoto digicam
- AI options are inconsistent
- What is a photograph?
Display screen: 6.3-inch 1080p 120Hz OLED / Processor: Tensor G4 / Cameras: 50-megapixel f/1.7 principal 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 (and sometimes lower than that), the fundamental Pixel 9 is in a very interesting place, and should 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 should you’re into AI photograph enhancing methods, boy does this cellphone have ‘em. There’s a brand new Screenshots app that acts as a spot to retailer the entire info that will 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 helpful.
You gotta admit, the digicam bar is a powerful look. Picture: Allison Johnson / The Verge
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 seemingly 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 desires a pleasant Android cellphone that works.
Learn my full Google Pixel 9 evaluate.
The very best maximalist cellphone
$1000
The Good
- Wonderful display
- Improved ultrawide digicam
- Rounded corners are comfier
The Dangerous
- Costly
- Cumbersome
- AI is (nonetheless) hit and miss
Display screen: 6.9-inch 1440p 120Hz OLED / Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite / Cameras: 200-megapixel principal with OIS, 50-megapixel 5x telephoto with OIS, 10-megapixel 3x telephoto with OIS, 50-megapixel ultrawide, 12-megapixel selfie / Battery: 5,000mAh / Charging: 45W wired, 15W wi-fi (Qi2 Prepared) / Climate resistance: IP68
There’s nonetheless no cellphone fairly just like the Extremely. The Galaxy S25 Extremely is Samsung’s newest reply to the query, “What in case your cellphone had the entire options?” It’s geared up with two telephoto cameras, a built-in stylus, and an enormous, shiny display. Good luck discovering that mixture in one other cellphone. Associated: this is among the most costly slab-style telephones you should purchase.
The latest version of the Extremely comes with rounded corners and flat edges, making it extra snug in your hand. However should you’re in search of important year-over-year enhancements to the Extremely system exterior of that, nicely, you gained’t discover a lot. Samsung’s focus has been on software program options, which is to say AI options. However AI on Galaxy telephones stays a combined bag — it’s definitely not the paradigm shift Samsung desires us to assume the S25 collection represents.
Picture: Allison Johnson / The Verge
All of that places the Extremely in a spot of barely much less distinction than earlier variations. The most important updates are software program options accessible to the remainder of the S25 collection. The Extremely appears and feels extra like different Galaxy telephones this time round, too. Greater than ever, it’s laborious to grasp what Samsung means when it calls this cellphone “Extremely.” Nonetheless, it’s your most suitable option for a feature-packed Android cellphone — even when it’s not fairly as extremely because it as soon as was.
Learn my full Samsung Galaxy S25 Extremely evaluate.
The very best Android cellphone that isn’t big
$700
The Good
- The final fairly sized Android cellphone
- Seven years of OS upgrades
- Superb digicam
The Dangerous
- Samsung software program is as cluttered as regular
- AI remains to be a combined bag
Display screen: 6.2-inch 2340 x 1080 120Hz OLED / Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite / Cameras: 50-megapixel principal with OIS, 12-megapixel ultrawide, 10-megapixel 3x telephoto with OIS, 12-megapixel selfie / Battery: 4,000mAh / Charging: 25W wired, 15W wi-fi (Qi2 Prepared) / Climate-resistance score: IP68
Most individuals like an enormous cellphone, and I get that. I do. In order for you an enormous Android cellphone, you will have loads of choices in entrance of you. However a few of us like a smaller cellphone — one thing that (sort of) matches in your pocket, or feels extra snug in your hand. For us, there’s however one possibility on Android: the Samsung Galaxy S25.
That’s the common S25, not the Plus, which is a high quality large cellphone. However the usual S25 is mainly the final of its form: a full-featured cellphone with a 6.2-inch display. It’s not small, however it’s not big, and we’ll need to take what we will get. And it’s a darn good cellphone that retains up with the larger units in all of the vital methods: the battery goes all day, it comes with loads of RAM, and it even has an actual telephoto lens — not one thing you get on a primary, 6.1-inch cellphone on, say, iOS.
Picture: Allison Johnson / The Verge
The Galaxy S25 isn’t only a good, small-ish cellphone by default. It’s dependable, sturdy, and comes with the promise of seven years of OS updates. It’s not my decide for the general finest Android cellphone as a result of Samsung software program generally is a bit a lot, however should you’re snug within the Samsung ecosystem and also you simply need a cellphone that matches in your dang pocket, then that is the one to go together with.
Learn my full Samsung Galaxy S25 evaluate.
The very best light-weight large cellphone
$990
The Good
- Like an everyday cellphone, however slim
- Surprisingly light-weight
- Battery life isn’t as unhealthy as I feared
The Dangerous
- No telephoto digicam
- Battery life not as robust as a regular cellphone
Display screen: 6.7-inch 1440p 120Hz LTPO OLED / Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite / Cameras: 200-megapixel f/1.7 principal digicam with OIS, 12-megapixel f/2.2 ultrawide, 12-megapixel f/2.2 selfie / Battery: 3,900mAh / Charging: 25W wired, 15W wi-fi (Qi2 Prepared) / Climate-resistance score: IP68
Large telephones generally tend to, nicely, feel and appear large. The Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge, then again, is completely different. Because of its slim, light-weight design, the machine offers a welcome reprieve from the numerous chunky, heavy alternate options. It’s thinner and lighter than the Galaxy S25 Plus, making it the large cellphone you possibly can really slide into your pocket or night bag with out it protruding out.
So, what’s the catch? The S25 Edge’s battery life is okay. Not nice, not horrible, however someplace straight down the center. To be honest, it held up admirably throughout a very strenuous workday, one full with hours of display time, cellular hotspotting, and dwell running a blog, making it to bedtime with battery to spare. It additionally lacks a devoted telephoto lens, although it does function the identical 200-megapixel principal digicam discovered within the S25 Extremely.
In comparison with the S25 Plus (left) the distinction is noticeable, however you’re feeling the influence when you decide the cellphone up. Picture: Allison Johnson / The Verge
Even with these compromises, the S25 Edge is a really succesful cellphone that gives related efficiency and sturdiness to different units within the S25 lineup. You’ll simply need to be a bit extra conscious of battery life because the day goes on; nevertheless, until you’re ceaselessly streaming video or enjoying graphics-intensive video games all through the day, the noticeably thinner, lighter design presents a pleasant change of tempo.
Learn our Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge evaluate.
The very best cellphone should you hate ready to your cellphone to cost
$900
The Good
- Wonderful battery life
- Six years of safety updates
- Sturdy IP score for mud and water resistance
The Dangerous
- Large cellphone is large
- Not as many OS updates as Google and Samsung supply
Display screen: 6.82-inch 1440p 120Hz LTPO OLED / Processor: Snapdragon 8 Elite / Cameras: 50-megapixel f/1.6 principal with OIS, 50-megapixel 3x telephoto with OIS, 50-megapixel f/2.0 ultrawide, 32-megapixel selfie / Battery: 6,000mAh / Charging: 80W wired, 50W wi-fi / Climate-resistance score: IP68 and IP69
There are many good causes to think about the OnePlus 13. It has an enormous, stunning display, and prices 100 bucks lower than the Galaxy S25 Plus. Its mud and water resistance is so robust you could possibly virtually use the cellphone in a hurricane with out penalties. And its digicam system is way improved yr over yr, notably on the subject of low-light portraiture. However there’s one standout motive to think about the 13: impatience.
This vegan leather-based again panel is so good. Picture: Allison Johnson / The Verge
The OnePlus 13 presents sufficient battery stamina to get by way of two days of average use on a single cost — and that’s with loads of power-draining options enabled, together with the always-on show. If you happen to’re thriftier along with your cost, it might even transcend that. Forgot to cost in a single day? No large deal; you possibly can in all probability simply cost it up on evening two. Charging can be comparatively quick, and within the US, the cellphone comes with an 80W wired charger within the field. So even should you do want a noon top-off, you’ll have the ability to get hours of cost in a matter of minutes. No different flagship cellphone presents that sort of charging (or not charging) flexibility.
Learn my full OnePlus 13 evaluate.
$2000
The Good
- Ridiculously slim and lightweight for a foldable
- All-day battery with average use
- Outer display lastly feels regular
The Dangerous
- It’s $2,000
- Sturdiness nonetheless a priority
- Digicam bump makes it wobble on a desk
Display screen: 8-inch, 1968p, 120Hz OLED internal display; 6.5-inch, 1080p, 120Hz OLED cowl display / Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite / Cameras: 200-megapixel f/1.7 principal with OIS; 10-megapixel 3x telephoto with OIS; 12-megapixel ultrawide; 10-megapixel selfie (cowl display); 10-megapixel internal selfie digicam / Battery: 4,400mAh / Charging: 25W wired, 15W wi-fi, 4.5W reverse wi-fi / Climate resistance: IP48
Does anybody actually want a folding cellphone? Most likely not, particularly one as costly because the Galaxy Z Fold 7. However there’s no query that it’s the nicest book-style foldable we’ve used thus far. As an alternative of the lengthy and slim kind issue of older Fold collection units, Samsung reworked the Fold 7’s proportions to function an outer display with a 21:9 side ratio. The change — together with a thinner body — makes the machine really feel extra like a regular slab-style machine than ever.
Open the Fold 7 up, and also you get a spacious internal show that’s excellent for multitasking and gaming. With the ability to watch YouTube movies on one half of the display and take notes within the different half is extremely helpful. That stated, the hinge can really feel stiff when opening the cellphone, virtually such as you’re prying it open. The Fold 7 additionally options one of many largest digicam bumps we’ve encountered in a cellphone, making the machine sit crooked on flat surfaces. That’s one of many compromises you make with such a skinny foldable.
The outer show’s reworked proportions make it really feel like a traditional slab-style cellphone. Picture: Allison Johnson / The Verge
In the meantime, components like outer display sharpness, digicam system high quality, sturdiness, and battery life all fall wanting what you get from the extra reasonably priced Samsung Galaxy S25 Extremely. That stated, should you’re in search of one thing greater than a conventional slab-style machine, you gained’t discover a higher, extra luxurious foldable.
Learn our full Galaxy Z Fold 7 evaluate.
Different Android telephones price contemplating
There are lots of extra nice Android units that weren’t coated right here, and some are price calling out that didn’t fairly make the minimize for a advice.
- The OnePlus Open can be one other good book-style foldable possibility. It’s skinny and lightweight, and the software program consists of some considerate approaches to multitasking — an important a part of the folding cellphone expertise. However it gained’t be supported with software program updates for so long as the Pixel 9 Professional Fold or the Galaxy Z Fold 7. Learn our evaluate.
- Talking of OnePlus, the corporate additionally not too long ago launched the OnePlus 13R, a midrange cellphone with an enormous 6.78-inch OLED show and sufficient battery life to hold you thru two full days on a single cost. That stated, the $599 handset lacks wi-fi charging and full water resistance, each of which could be discovered on different budget-friendly telephones for much less. Learn our evaluate.
- The Google Pixel 9A comes with some small however vital updates over the 8A, together with extra sturdy water resistance and a barely larger, brighter display. Higher but, these enhancements don’t include a worth bump. With seven years of OS updates included, that’s a powerful ROI. Learn our evaluate.
- The Nothing Cellphone 3 is billed by the model as its “first true flagship cellphone,” with a $799 beginning worth that competes instantly with the iPhone 16, Galaxy S25, and Pixel 9. It boasts a 6.67-inch OLED show, a beneficiant 5,150mAh capability battery, and a Snapdragon 8S Gen 4 chipset, which is on the decrease finish of the flagship spectrum. It additionally appears completely different from earlier Nothing units. As an alternative of the long-lasting mild strips on the again that glow and flash, the Nothing 3 contains a small dot-matrix LED show that may present photos and icons. Learn our evaluate.
- The Galaxy Z Flip 7 is Samsung’s different new foldable machine. In contrast to earlier Flip collection units, the corporate’s newest flip cellphone ditches the file folder-shaped search for a 4.1-inch, edge-to-edge show that wraps across the cameras. The bigger display is a pleasure to make use of, making it a lot simpler to rapidly reply to texts and handle full apps. Whereas the design is an enormous improve, the machine nonetheless presents no safety in opposition to high quality particles like mud or sand, elevating issues about how the machine will maintain up over time. Learn our evaluate.
- The Pixel 9 Professional Fold was our earlier decide for one of the best foldable cellphone, and it stays a terrific possibility for anybody trying to leap into the foldable market. Just like the Z Fold 7, it presents a extra slab-style kind issue when it’s closed and a spacious internal display when it’s open. As nice as it’s, the 9 Professional Fold has a barely downgraded digicam system in comparison with different Pixel 9 units. There’s additionally no formal mud resistance, so even a small quantity of mud has the potential to trigger important injury to the hinge. Learn our evaluate.
- Google’s Pixel 10 collection — which is able to seemingly embrace an everyday Pixel 10, a Professional, a Professional XL, and a Professional Fold — is predicted to be proven off at a Made by Google occasion on August twentieth. Google’s next-gen flagships have been closely leaked at this level, and the bottom mannequin is predicted to hitch the Professional choices with three cameras (together with a telephoto lens). The brand new Professional fashions, in the meantime, will distinguish themselves with an upgraded Tensor G5 chipset and extra superior AI options whereas retaining a near-identical design. Google can also reveal a totally dust-proof Pixel 10 Professional Fold.
Replace, August eighth: Up to date pricing / availability and added the Galaxy Z Fold 7 as our decide for “one of the best foldable cellphone”. Brandon Russell additionally contributed to this put up.
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