The very best Android telephones for 2025

Selecting the most effective Android telephone can really feel overwhelming as there are such a lot of choices from so many manufacturers, it’s onerous to know the place to start out. Not like Apple, which sticks to its smooth lineup of iPhones, Android gives a world of selection. Whether or not you are eyeing the most recent flagship from Samsung, a budget-friendly smartphone from Motorola or one thing distinctive with a foldable design, there’s an Android machine on the market to fit your wants.

The fantastic thing about Android is its flexibility. You’ll discover telephones with totally different display sizes, digital camera setups, battery life and even quirky extras like stylus assist or rugged builds. Plus, Android allows you to customise your machine to your coronary heart’s content material – one thing Apple followers would possibly envy. We’ve examined and researched the highest Android telephones that will help you discover the fitting one on your finances, life-style, and tech preferences.

What to search for in a brand new Android telephone

Efficiency

With regards to choosing our favourite Android telephones, the principle issues we search for are fairly simple: good efficiency (each compute and AI), a pleasant show, strong design, sharp cameras, lengthy battery life and a major dedication to ongoing software program assist. For efficiency, not solely will we take a look at benchmarks and different metrics, however we additionally consider telephones based mostly on responsiveness. No matter whether or not you’re studying, textual content messaging, scrolling via social media or enjoying a recreation, nobody needs a gadget that feels sluggish.

Show

While the specs haven't changed much from last year, the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra's 6.8-inch 120Hz AMOLED display is still easily one of the best smartphone screens on the market. — Sam Rutherford/Engadget

With regards to shows, we usually choose OLED panels that may produce wealthy, saturated colours with not less than 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 not too long ago, most of our favourite units additionally assist screens with quick refresh charges of 90Hz or 120Hz, which provides an additional degree of smoothness and fluidity.

Design

Now we are going to admit there’s a little bit of subjectivity when deciding which telephones look the most effective, however there are different design facets like mud and water resistance or display sturdiness that may make a giant distinction to long-term survival. It’s additionally necessary to think about issues like assist for wi-fi charging, energy sharing (aka reverse wi-fi charging) and UWB connectivity, which might have an effect on how your telephone interacts along with your different units.

Cameras

Clearly, for images we’re searching for sharp, colourful pictures in each vibrant and low-light situations. And we wish video clips with excessive dynamic vary, wealthy audio and clean picture stabilization. Further cameras for ultra-wide and telephoto lenses are a plus. The very best cameras also needs to embody options like devoted night time modes, assist for numerous video recording resolutions, and extra picture modes like timelapse, sluggish movement and extra.

Battery and software program

Lastly, when it comes to longevity, we’re searching for all-day battery life on units that additionally delivered nice outcomes on our native video rundown check (not less than 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 further 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 not less than three years of software program assist, upgrades and common safety updates.

Google

Learn our full Google Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro XL review

Processor: Google Tensor G4 | Show: 6.3-inch Tremendous Actua, as much as 120Hz | Cameras: Rear array (50MP large, 48MP ultrawide with Macro Focus, 48MP 5x telephoto lens), 42MP twin PD selfie entrance digital camera with autofocus | Battery: 4,700mAh

Lastly, a smaller Pixel Professional. Google’s Pixel sequence has lengthy been probably the greatest Android telephones round, with the Professional mannequin being the superior model. However it was all the time somewhat too huge and too cumbersome for these of us who’ve smaller arms or need our telephones to slot in our pockets. Cue the Pixel 9 Pro, which is the littler model of the Pixel 9 Professional XL. As an alternative of a comparatively giant 6.8-inch display like that on its larger sibling, the usual Professional has a 6.3-inch show that’s simple to maneuver. No extra worrying about dropping your Pixel Professional simply since you fumbled whereas attempting 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 measurement, that means you will discover the identical digital camera setup and efficiency in each handsets. The one actual variations are the display measurement, battery and charging speeds, because the non-XL mannequin recharges at a barely slower price. However the Pixel 9 Professional can also be a lot longer-lasting than the XL, notching virtually 25 hours on our battery check.

These distinctions apart, the Pixel 9 Professional lineup is our favourite Android telephone due to its top-notch digital camera efficiency, intriguing AI options and a normal grown-up vibe. Whereas earlier Pixel flagships had a colourful, blocky design that felt recent, this 12 months’s units really feel strong and refined. And, dare we are saying it, virtually like iPhones. With out the digital camera bars, they might be fairly onerous 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 choice, this 12 months’s mannequin is perhaps ok to justify a premium worth. When you nonetheless need one thing from the Pixel 9 household however do not wish to pay $1,000, the bottom Pixel 9 remains to be a strong handset for most individuals. However because it stands, the Pixel 9 Professional is the most effective Android handset cash should buy. — Cherlynn Low, Deputy Editor

Professionals

Nice digital camera options and improved telephoto digital camera
A 12 months of Gemini Superior without spending a dime
Unbelievable battery life
A stupendous, vibrant display that’s simple to make use of outside
Tensor G4 runs cooler than its predecessor

Cons

Slower charging speeds than the XL
Not the most effective telephone for gaming

$999 at Google

Picture by Sam Rutherford / Engadget

Learn our full Google Pixel 8a review

Processor: Google Tensor G3 | Show: 6.1-inch 1,080 x 2,400 OLED, as much as 120Hz | Cameras: Rear array (64MP large, 13MP ultrawide), 13MP entrance digital camera | Battery: 4,49mAh

Google’s A-series Pixels have lengthy been among the greatest midrange telephones in the marketplace. 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 stunning 120Hz OLED show and nice battery life. The machine additionally comes with creature comforts like IP67 mud and water resistance and handy (however sluggish) 7.5-watt Qi wi-fi charging. However most significantly, beginning at $499, it is perhaps probably the greatest offers in the marketplace.

Professionals

Colourful 120Hz OLED show
Robust battery life
Glorious cameras
Nice worth

Cons

Sluggish wi-fi charging
Thick bezels

$499 at Amazon

Picture by Sam Rutherford / Engadget

Learn our full Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra review

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 digital camera | Battery: 5,000mAh

For its newest super-premium telephone, Samsung gave the S24 Ultra a extra sturdy titanium body, sooner efficiency due to 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 greatest improve is a brand new full suite of AI instruments, which incorporates the flexibility to proofread texts, edit photos and transcribe recordings. And if you tack on the most effective show out there on a telephone at the moment and a built-in stylus, you’ve 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.

$40 at Samsung Electronics

Google

Learn our full Pixel 9 Pro Fold review

Processor: Google Tensor G4 | Show: 8-inch Tremendous Actua Flex LTPO full show, 6.3-inch Actua cowl show | Cameras: Rear array (48MP large, 10.5MP ultrawide, 10.8MP telephoto), 10MP entrance digital camera | Battery: 4,650mAh

The small however mighty enhancements Google dropped at its second-gen foldable have pushed it to the entrance of the pack. The Pixel 9 Pro Fold turns the considerably unfinished unique Pixel Fold right into a strong handset prepared for prime time. Google refined its design to have a facet ratio that mimics the usual Pixel 9 smartphones, with a well-recognized 6.3-inch, 20:9 exterior show, that’s each simpler to make use of and maintain. The inner show has a extra sq. side ratio as effectively with a bit extra display actual property than earlier than. The handset general has a extra premium really feel and positively a extra polished look due to its matte again and satin metallic body.

Together with strong efficiency (and battery life) and an upgraded design to match, the Pixel 9 Professional Fold nonetheless has the most effective cameras out of any foldable handset we’ve tried, regardless of not having any {hardware} upgrades from the unique model. Plus, Google’s AI picture enhancing instruments like Magic Editor offer you extra management over your images, and Pixel-only software program like Made You Look make Google’s handset a extra compelling foldable. — Valentina Palladino, Deputy Editor

Professionals