If you’re in the market for one of the best Android phones, the breadth of options can be overwhelming. But choice is one of the greatest things about Google’s mobile OS. Android provides a similar user experience across many makes and models of phones, while letting you prioritize the features
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Those on a tight budget can get a pretty good Android phone for under $200. However, if you step up to the sub-$400 range, the choices get considerably better, especially when it comes to camera quality. And you can get flagship-level performance starting at under $700, if you're willing to live without some bells and whistles.
The most premium Android flagship phones start at $899, which offer the biggest, sharpest and brightest displays, the most advanced cameras and cutting edge features like reverse wireless charging and 120Hz screens. For now, 5G is a premium feature, but more affordable 5G Android phones that offer blazing fast downloads are on the way from multiple brands, like Samsung and TCL, and will arrive this summer.
The best Android phones you can buy today
1. OnePlus 8 Pro
The OnePlus 8 Pro may seem like a departure from previous OnePlus handsets. After all, at $899, this is one of the most expensive phones OnePlus has ever made. But the OnePlus 8 Pro is the best Android phone because it packs as many high-end features as possible for an incomparable value.
In the case of the OnePlus 8 Pro, those features include a 120 Hz refresh rate for its 6.78-inch OLED screen and a top-of-the-line Snapdragon 865 system-on-chip. The OnePlus 8 Pro is the first OnePlus device to support wireless charging, and in the grand tradition of OnePlus pushing the battery envelope, its wireless charging standard is actually faster than many wired options.
You won’t get the best camera phone with the OnePlus 8 Pro — the Galaxy S20 Plus' photography is a bit better across the board. However, the OnePlus 8 Pro's four rear lenses can produce some impressive shots that measure up respectably against industry leaders. And while that $899 price may be lofty by OnePlus’ standards, it’s still $100 less than the least expensive Galaxy S20 model, not to mention $300 less than the S20 Plus.
2. Samsung Galaxy S20 Plus
The Galaxy S10 Plus remains near the head of the Android class with innovations that still impress more than a year after its debut. A triple camera setup on the back of the S10 Plus coupled with AI improvements bolsters the phone's image capture abilities. And a 4,100 mAh battery means you can expect all-day battery life from one of the longest-lasting handsets we've tested in recent years.
The S10 Plus offers other features that make it one of the best Android phones. The Infinity-O display uses circular cutouts to house the phone's two-front cameras rather than a notch. There's an ultrasonic fingerprint sensor underneath the display that quickly unlocks your phone. And Wireless PowerShare means you can place other devices that support wireless charging on top of the S10 Plus' back and top off their batteries.
Just keep in mind that the Galaxy S20 Plus is now on sale, which offers a bigger display with a smoother refresh rate, 5G networking, and more. On the flip side, Samsung cut the price on the Galaxy S10 Plus by $150, so you can now get a top Android handset for $849.
3. Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus
The Galaxy S10 Plus remains near the head of the Android class with innovations that still impress more than a year after its debut. A triple camera setup on the back of the S10 Plus coupled with AI improvements bolsters the phone's image capture abilities. And a 4,100 mAh battery means you can expect all-day battery life from one of the longest-lasting handsets we've tested in recent years.
The S10 Plus offers other features that make it one of the best Android phones. The Infinity-O display uses circular cutouts to house the phone's two-front cameras rather than a notch. There's an ultrasonic fingerprint sensor underneath the display that quickly unlocks your phone. And Wireless PowerShare means you can place other devices that support wireless charging on top of the S10 Plus' back and top off their batteries.
Just keep in mind that the Galaxy S20 Plus is now on sale, which offers a bigger display with a smoother refresh rate, 5G networking, and more. On the flip side, Samsung cut the price on the Galaxy S10 Plus by $150, so you can now get a top Android handset for $849.
4. Moto G Power
Two things stand out about the Moto G Power — its giant battery and its sub-$300 price. The former allows Motorola’s budget phone to post the best time ever on our battery test, while the latter makes the Moto G Power a compelling purchase when compared to other midrange Android models.
On the battery front, the Moto G Power lasted 16 hours and 10 minutes on our battery test, in which phones continuously surf the web over LTE until they run out of power.
Speaking of price, you can get the Moto G Power for $150 less than the Pixel 3a, and you don’t have to make many trade-offs for that lower price. The Snapdragon 665 chipset inside the Moto G Power turns in comparable performance, and while the Pixel still has the better cameras, the Moto G Power’s triple lens array does produce some very good shots. This is the best Android phone to get if you don’t want to spend a lot on your next handset.
5. Google Pixel 3a
The Pixel 3a strikes a winning blow against the rising cost of smartphones by delivering a terrific camera and a great Android experience in a device that costs hundreds of dollars less. The Pixel 3a uses the same single 12-megapixel camera found on the Pixel 3, but more importantly, it taps into the same AI-powered computational photography features. That means the pictures you snap with your Pixel 3a will be every bit good as what the Pixel 3 delivers — making the Pixel 3a one of the best camera phones around, even though it costs less than half of what most flagships do.
You will have to make some compromises for the Pixel 3a's lower price tag. This phone is made out of plastic, and the processor isn't the fastest. But the Pixel 3a offers solid performance and a long-lasting battery, as it held out for nearly 12 hours on our battery test. The value delivered by the Pixel 3a earns it a spot on this list of the best Android phones, but some may want to wait for the upcoming Google pixel 4a, which could arrive as soon as next month.
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