The perfect Android telephones to purchase in 2024

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

On the flip facet, all that selection could make for some onerous selections. Right here’s the place I’d like to assist; I’ve examined an entire boatload of current 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 via the choices, you’ll nearly definitely come throughout tech’s favourite buzzphrase of the yr: AI. Usually talking, AI has but to actually impress me on a cellphone. The Pixel 9 sequence has some doubtlessly helpful options, like a brand new 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. These items are nothing to sneeze at! However none of it feels just like the platform shift that the large tech corporations hold promising. Greatest to not put an excessive amount of inventory in any firm’s AI claims simply but.

If you happen to stay within the US, I’ve some unhealthy information concerning the Android market, although. For classy causes having to do with “capitalism” and “geopolitics,” we don’t get practically as lots 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 price acknowledging that most individuals within the US get their telephones “totally free” 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. Telephone producers additionally provide financing and trade-in offers to make fee extra manageable. However should you’re completely happy along with your provider 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 that you must change plans to money in on the deal. 

Nonetheless you go about it, you might have some implausible choices in your subsequent Android cellphone.

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, the fundamental Pixel 9 is in a very interesting place, and should you 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 quicker fingerprint scanner for unlocking the cellphone. The digital camera is as dependable as ever, and should you’re into AI picture modifying tips, boy does this cellphone have ‘em. There’s a brand new Screenshots app that acts as a spot to retailer the entire data that might in any other case be misplaced at sea in your digital camera roll, and it makes use of AI to parse data 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 doubtless 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 simple advice for anybody who simply needs a pleasant Android cellphone that works.

Learn my Google Pixel 9 overview.

Display screen: 6.8-inch 1440p 120Hz OLED / Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 / Cameras: 200-megapixel principal 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 thing you may ask for in a cellphone — nicely, no less than one which doesn’t fold in half. There’s a stylus, two telephoto cameras, a large battery, and among the best ding dang screens on any cellphone, anyplace.

So why am I a bit of underwhelmed? For starters, Samsung swapped final yr’s 10x telephoto digital camera for a higher-resolution 5x digital camera that makes use of in-sensor crop to zoom to 10x. It is a wise transfer, and photographs at 10x look tremendous, 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 swap to titanium for the body hasn’t made it any lighter.

Private emotions concerning the zoom lens apart, the S24 Extremely continues to be principally peerless. Its much-touted AI options are tremendous, 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 snug to make use of outdoors it’s nearly magic. That’s hardly a elaborate new tech function, however the Galaxy S24 Extremely is hardly any outdated cellphone.

Learn my 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 principal 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 a number of years and a bit of soul-searching, OnePlus is again to its roots. The OnePlus 12 is a wonderful machine with high-end efficiency with a aggressive worth: $799 for the bottom mannequin with a hefty 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage.

For that worth, 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 implausible, too — energy customers can get via a full day, and light-weight customers can stretch it to 2.

What stands out concerning the OnePlus 12, although, would possibly simply be what’s not right here: a bunch of AI options. Truthfully? That’s form of refreshing. Among 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 incredible cellphone, the OnePlus 12 may be the one.

Learn my OnePlus 12 overview.

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

Does anybody really want a folding cellphone? In all probability not. However utilizing one is terribly good, and the Pixel 9 Professional Fold is the nicest book-style foldable I’ve used so far. It’s expensive, it’s nonetheless bulkier than a slab-style cellphone, and its cameras aren’t fairly as good as the opposite Pixel 9 Professional telephones. But it surely’s a pleasure to make use of, each as an everyday cellphone with the quilt display and once you unfold the large inside display.

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

That stated, 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 vivid 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 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 principal with OIS, 50-megapixel ultrawide, 32-megapixel selfie / Battery: 4,700mAh / Charging: 45W wired, 15W wi-fi / Climate resistance: IP54

The Nothing Telephone 2 doesn’t provide the perfect worth proposition in its upper-midrange class. But when it’s type you’re after and one thing a bit of flashy (nicely, loads flashy), then the Telephone 2 is a simple decide.

It gives 6.7-inch display, nice every day efficiency and battery life, and a succesful digital camera system. However that’s the standard stuff — what’s uncommon concerning the Telephone 2 is its set of LED gentle strips on the again panel. They illuminate in combos known as “glyphs,” and you’ll set them to provide you with a warning to sure notifications. It’s neat however finally isn’t as useful because the system’s customizable always-on show.

On the draw back, the Telephone 2 is just splash-resistant reasonably 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 Telephone 2’s styling appeals to you, then it’s a superb selection. One factor’s for positive — it positively stands out from the gang.

Learn my Nothing Telephone 2 overview.

There are numerous extra nice Android units that weren’t coated right here, and some are price calling out that didn’t fairly make the lower for a advice.

• First off, there’s the Galaxy Z Flip 6, Samsung’s wonderful 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 quilt 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. Learn our overview.
• The OnePlus Open can be one other good book-style foldable possibility. It’s skinny and light-weight, and the software program contains some considerate approaches to multitasking — a vital a part of the folding cellphone expertise. But it surely gained’t be supported with software program updates for so long as the Pixel 9 Professional Fold or the Galaxy Z Fold 6. Learn our overview.
• Final however not least, there’s the Google Pixel 8A. If you happen to actually need to maximize the return in your funding, it’s onerous to beat Google’s newest midrange cellphone. It covers all of the fundamentals for $499 whereas providing seven years of software program help. Learn our overview.

Replace, October twenty first: Up to date to replicate present pricing and availability.