The Android ecosystem is all about selection. Whereas iPhone homeowners have a smaller pool of recent units to choose from when it’s time to improve, there’s a wider vary of selections on Android. Some Android telephones even fold in half! Think about.
On the flip aspect, all that selection could make for some arduous selections. Right here’s the place I’d like to assist; I’ve examined an entire boatload of current Android telephones, and I believe there are some actual winners within the present batch. It’s all a matter of what you’re on the lookout for, what you’re comfy spending, and what your definition of a “moderately sized telephone” is. (I’ve my very own, personally.)
As you sift by the choices, you’ll virtually actually come throughout tech’s favourite buzzphrase of the second: AI. Usually talking, AI has but to essentially impress me on a telephone. The Pixel 9 collection has some doubtlessly helpful options, like a Screenshots app that makes use of AI to tag related data in metadata, and Galaxy units can translate a telephone 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 large tech firms preserve promising. Finest to not put an excessive amount of inventory in any firm’s AI claims simply but.
What I’m on the lookout for
There’s no shortcut to correctly testing a telephone; I put my private SIM card (bodily or in any other case) in every telephone I evaluation and dwell with it for at least one full week. I arrange every telephone 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 photographs of my child — every little thing I can throw at it. Beginning over with a brand new telephone each week both appears like a dream or your private hell, relying on how Into Telephones you might be. For me, switching has turn out to be so routine that it’s largely painless.
An excellent Android telephone 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 ranking for mud and water resistance (IP68 is most popular), sturdy glass panels on the back and front, and a sturdy aluminum body somewhat than plastic. Samsung and Google flagships now provide seven years of OS and safety updates, which as superior. As a naked minimal three years of Android OS model upgrades is most popular, together with a complete of 4 or 5 years of safety updates.
One of the best Android telephones have loads of decision to cowl their giant show space, which suggests 1440p, ideally. A quick refresh price of a minimum of 120Hz is most popular — animations and scrolling look tremendous easy at that price — and even higher if it’s variable right down to 1Hz to avoid wasting on battery life.
Any telephone can take a good photograph in good lighting, however the perfect telephone cameras can deal with low gentle and high-contrast scenes properly, 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 gentle to collect extra gentle. A telephoto lens is nice to have too, although high-res sensors are beginning to provide higher lossless crop modes that mimic quick zoom lenses properly.
Most telephones on this listing provide wi-fi charging, although not all do. Lack of wi-fi charging isn’t an entire deal-breaker, but it surely’s changing into a necessary function for lots of people because it’s handy for charging many alternative sorts of units.
Should you dwell 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 almost 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 “without cost” from their wi-fi provider. Should you can handle it, shopping for a telephone unlocked gives you probably the most flexibility and freedom if you find yourself wanting to alter carriers within the close to future. Telephone producers additionally provide financing and trade-in offers to make fee extra manageable. However for those who’re pleased along with your provider and the free telephone on provide is the one you really need, by all means, take the free telephone. Simply be sure you perceive the phrases, particularly if you have to change plans to money in on the deal.
Nonetheless you go about it, you will have some unbelievable choices in your subsequent Android telephone.
One of the best Android telephone general
$599
The Good
- Up to date design feels safer in hand
- Quick fingerprint sensor
- Seven years of software program and OS updates
The Unhealthy
- No telephoto digital camera
- AI options are inconsistent
- What is a photograph?
Display: 6.3-inch 1080p 120Hz OLED / Processor: Tensor G4 / Cameras: 50-megapixel f/1.7 essential 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 for those who don’t want a telephoto digital camera or the most important display, then that is the Android telephone to get.
The Pixel 9 comes with some vital quality-of-life enhancements like a sooner fingerprint scanner for unlocking the telephone. The digital camera is as dependable as ever, and for those who’re into AI photograph enhancing tips, boy does this telephone 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 helpful.
Even with out AI, this is a superb telephone. It’s additionally designed to go the gap, with seven years of promised OS updates, which very doubtless means you’ll outgrow the telephone earlier than Google stops supporting it. Its potential for long-term worth and the standard of the {hardware} make it a straightforward suggestion for anybody who simply desires a pleasant Android telephone that works.
One of the best maximalist telephone
$1000
The Good
- Glorious display
- Improved ultrawide digital camera
- Rounded corners are comfier
The Unhealthy
- Costly
- Cumbersome
- AI is (nonetheless) hit and miss
Display: 6.9-inch 1440p 120Hz OLED / Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite / Cameras: 200-megapixel essential 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 telephone fairly just like the Extremely. The Galaxy S25 Extremely is Samsung’s newest reply to the query, “What in case your telephone had the entire options?” It’s geared up with two telephoto cameras, a built-in stylus, and a giant, vivid display. Good luck discovering that mixture in one other telephone. Associated: this is without doubt one of the most costly slab-style telephones you should buy.
The most recent version of the Extremely comes with rounded corners and flat edges, making it extra comfy in your hand. However for those who’re on the lookout for vital year-over-year enhancements to the Extremely system outdoors of that, properly, 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 actually not the paradigm shift Samsung desires us to suppose 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 obtainable 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 arduous to know what Samsung means when it calls this telephone “Extremely.” Nonetheless, it’s your best option for a feature-packed Android telephone — even when it’s not fairly as extremely because it as soon as was.
One of the best Android telephone that isn’t enormous
$625
The Good
- The final moderately sized Android telephone
- Seven years of OS upgrades
- Superb digital camera
The Unhealthy
- Samsung software program is as cluttered as typical
- AI continues to be a combined bag
Display: 6.2-inch 2340 x 1080 120hz OLED / Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Cameras: 50-megapixel essential with OIS, 12-megapixel ultrawide, 10-megapixel 3x telephoto with OIS, 12-megapixel selfie Battery: 4000mAh / Charging: 25W wired, 15W wi-fi (Qi2 Prepared) / Climate-resistance ranking: IP68
Most individuals like a giant telephone, and I get that. I do. If you would like a giant Android telephone, you will have loads of choices in entrance of you. However a few of us like a smaller telephone — one thing that (sort of) matches in your pocket, or feels extra comfy in your hand. For us, there’s however one choice on Android: the Samsung Galaxy S25.
That’s the common S25, not the Plus, which is a advantageous large telephone. However the usual S25 is principally the final of its type: a full-featured telephone with a 6.2-inch display. It’s not small, but it surely’s not enormous, and we’ll need to take what we are able to get. And it’s a darn good telephone that retains up with the larger units in all of the essential 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 telephone on, say, iOS.
Picture: Allison Johnson / The Verge
The Galaxy S25 isn’t only a good, small-ish telephone 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 greatest Android telephone as a result of Samsung software program is usually a bit a lot, however for those who’re comfy within the Samsung ecosystem and also you simply need a telephone that matches in your dang pocket, then that is the one to go together with.
One of the best telephone for those who hate ready in your telephone to cost
$850
The Good
- Glorious battery life
- Six years of safety updates
- Sturdy IP ranking for mud and water resistance
The Unhealthy
- Huge telephone is large
- Not as many OS updates as Google and Samsung provide
Display: 6.82-inch 1440p 120Hz LTPO OLED / Processor: Snapdragon 8 Elite / Cameras: 50-megapixel f/1.6 essential 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 ranking: IP68 and IP69
There are many good causes to contemplate the OnePlus 13. It has a giant, lovely display, and prices 100 bucks lower than the Galaxy S25 Plus. Its mud and water resistance is so robust you would virtually use the telephone in a hurricane with out penalties. And its digital camera system is far improved yr over yr, notably on the subject of low-light portraiture. However there’s one standout motive to contemplate the 13: impatience.
The OnePlus 13 gives sufficient battery stamina to get by 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. Should you’re thriftier along with your cost, it may even transcend that. Forgot to cost in a single day? No large deal; you’ll be able to in all probability simply cost it up on night time two. Charging can be comparatively quick, and within the US, the telephone comes with an 80W wired charger within the field. So even for those who do want a noon top-off, you’ll have the ability to get hours of cost in a matter of minutes. No different flagship telephone gives that sort of charging (or not charging) flexibility.
$1499
The Good
- Glorious outer display format
- Interior display is gorgeous to make use of
- Seven years of OS updates
The Unhealthy
- Costly
- Fundamental digital camera isn’t pretty much as good as slab telephones
- Lengthy-term sturdiness?
Display: 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 essential 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 telephone? In all probability not. However utilizing one is very good, and the Pixel 9 Professional Fold is the nicest book-style foldable I’ve used thus far. It’s expensive, it’s nonetheless bulkier than a slab-style telephone, and its cameras aren’t fairly as good as the opposite Pixel 9 Professional telephones. Nevertheless it’s a pleasure to make use of, each as a daily telephone with the duvet display and once you unfold the large inside display.
The 9 Professional Fold is Google’s second folding telephone, following up the passport-shaped Pixel Fold with a format that feels way 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 choose the 9 Professional Fold’s strategy.
That mentioned, 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 may’t get it repaired simply wherever. For $1,800, that’s an terrible lot to swallow. For the adventurous early adopter, although, the 9 Professional Fold can be very rewarding.
Different Android telephones price contemplating
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 minimize for a suggestion.
- First off, there’s the Galaxy Z Flip 6, Samsung’s glorious clamshell-style foldable. It’s not as a lot enjoyable to make use of because the 2025 Razr Extremely — which facilitates utilizing apps on the duvet display extra simply — however Motorola’s observe file for software program updates isn’t nice, so the Z Flip 6 is a safer wager for a flip telephone. Learn our evaluation.
- The OnePlus Open can be one other good book-style foldable choice. It’s skinny and lightweight, and the software program consists of some considerate approaches to multitasking — an important a part of the folding telephone expertise. Nevertheless it 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 evaluation.
- Talking of OnePlus, the corporate additionally lately launched the OnePlus 13R, a midrange telephone with a giant 6.78-inch OLED show and sufficient battery life to hold you thru two full days on a single cost. That mentioned, the $599 handset lacks wi-fi charging and full water resistance, each of which might be discovered on different budget-friendly telephones for much less. Learn our evaluation.
- We’re at present within the midst of testing Samsung’s new Galaxy S25 Edge, which primarily serves as a sleeker S25 Plus that trades battery life and a telephoto lens for sheer compactness. It’s nonetheless obtained a 6.7-inch OLED show and a Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy chipset, however provided that it’s 1.5 millimeters thinner and about an oz. lighter than the Plus, it’s extra comfy to tote round. Learn our hands-on impressions.
- Final however not least, there’s the Google Pixel 9A. It comes with some small however essential updates over the 8A, together with extra strong water resistance and a barely greater, 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 evaluation.
- Google’s Pixel 10 collection — which can doubtless embody a daily Pixel 10, a Professional, a Professional XL, and a Professional Fold — will reportedly launch at a Made by Google occasion on August thirteenth. Google’s next-gen flagships have been closely leaked at this level, and the bottom mannequin is anticipated to affix the Professional choices with three cameras (together with a telephoto lens). The 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.
Replace, June fifth: Up to date pricing / availability and added a point out of Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Edge.
