The best Android phones are more than just iPhone alternatives, and most offer things Apple hasn't even thought of yet. For instance, you're not going to find foldable devices like the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 running iOS. Plus, phones like the Google Pixel 7 Pro feature incredible cameras that make taking pictures that much more rewarding. Plus, Android is a lot easier to work with if you want to install third-party apps or change the way the entire UI looks.
TL;DR – These are the Best Android Phones:
- Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 – Best Android phone
- Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 – Best foldable
- Google Pixel 7a – Best budget
- Asus ROG Phone 7 – Best gaming
- OnePlus 11 – Best midrange
- Google Pixel 7 Pro – Best premium
So while you won't get that blue bubble when you're texting your friends, Android phones are some of the best smartphones on the market right now. And that's true whether you're on a budget or are looking for a top-end flagship that'll make all your friends jealous. Luckily, we review and use dozens of phones each year, and have picked out some of our favorites to share with you.
Contributions by Danielle Abraham and Georgie Peru
1. Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6
The Best Android Smartphone
The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 is an extremely powerful little smartphone, and marks the first time Samsung hasn't held its littlest foldable back with lackluster specs. This time around, we get a full-fat 50MP Wide lens on the back, along with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, backed up with 12GB of RAM. So, while this phone folds up into a diminuitive size, it doesn't lose any of its power, and has become one of the fastest smartphones we've tested this year.
The chassis has seen a major improvement, too, with a more rigid, squared-off design that's reminiscent of recent iPhones. That does make the Flip 6 seem a little thicker than last year's model, but it's not – it's actually thinner – though not by much. It's surprising, then, that Samsung managed to fit a more robust vapor chamber cooler in the phone, which should help with overheating. Though, the cover screen does get quite warm after long, intense workloads like playing games.
Luckily, the odd shape of the phone doesn't stop you from using phone controllers like the Backbone, which should help eliminate the discomfort that the heated back can cause. Most phones get quite warm when you put them through heavy workloads, so really there's nothing new here.
The Galaxy Z Flip 6's camera sees perhaps the biggest improvement over its last-generation counterpart. Now that it has a 50MP Wide lens as its main shooter, the device is able to take much more detailed photos. Couple that with the on-device AI sported by Samsung's recent Android phones, and you can get some incredible pictures when you let the hardware and software work in concert with one another. Even if you've been on the fence about foldables for a while, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 is probably the best Android phone on the market right now, especially if you don't like having a big brick taking up all the space in your pocket or purse.
2. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5
Best Foldable Android Phone
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 is a slight twist on the traditional flip phone, so rather than flipping it up, you open it like a book to reveal a beautiful 7.6-inch display, meaning you get a little tablet that’ll fold neatly in your pocket. When closed, you still get a 6.2-inch screen to play around with, and sleek design changes from the Galaxy Z Fold 4 bring a thinner, lighter phone alongside a new hinge allowing it to fold flat with no gap to help with longevity.
If you’re worried about the quality of that large internal display, the stunning QHD+ AMOLED panel gets plenty bright, hitting up to 1,750 nits, and you’ll enjoy silky, smooth frames thanks to a 120Hz adaptive refresh rate. But, there’s still a crease where the phone folds. Similar to other Samsung flagships, the Galaxy Z Fold 5 packs stunning cameras that capture insane detail and offer incredible zoom. Powering it all is a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset and 12GB of RAM, so this device shouldn’t have a problem chewing through all your tasks and games.
Right now, I'm using the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6, now that I've finished my review of the Z Flip 6, and it is quite a bit better. The same chassis improvements have made their way to the larger foldable, and the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 is extremely fast. Keep an eye on this page for my full review to go up in the next couple of weeks.
3. Google Pixel 7a
Best Budget Android Phone
Want a new phone with most of the bells and whistles of a flagship device but not the high price tag? The Google Pixel 7a is the budget smartphone for you. For $499, a $50 price hike from last year’s Pixel 6a at launch, you get a Google Tensor G2 processor. That’s the same chip found in the pricier Pixel 7 Pro and Pixel 7, and when you add in the 8GB RAM, there’s plenty of oomph to cruise through games and open multiple apps at once.
The Pixel 7a rocks a bright 6.1-inch OLED display with a solid 90Hz refresh rate for smooth scrolling, streaming, and gaming. You also get a 64MP main camera, which has more pixels than the flagship models, though the sensor is smaller. It still takes photos and videos that won’t disappoint. However, the 4,385mAh battery isn’t the best but should last all day with light to moderate use. Topping the phone up is also simple, thanks to wireless charging support.
4. Asus ROG Phone 7
Best Android Phone for Gaming
If you’re searching for the best Android phone that plays games without screen tearing, lag, or outdated hardware, then the Asus ROG Phone 7 is a solid choice. With hardware-level ray tracing, an all-day battery, and an AMOLED display with a 165Hz refresh rate, there’s no wonder this Android phone is a mobile gamer’s dream.
The Asus ROG 7 comes with four years worth of security updates, is IP54 certified, and boasts a Gorilla Glass Victus front, so you know it’s built to last. You can choose between 12GB or 16GB LPDDR5X RAM, which, when coupled with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor, makes this Android phone a real beast when it comes to multitasking and gaming.
5. OnePlus 11
Best Alternative Android Phone
The Android phone market is saturated by Samsung and Google, so for something a little less mainstream, the OnePlus 11 is a niche option to go with. Similar to other flagship Android phones, a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor is running the show. When you pair that with the 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, you’ll have snappy performance whether you’re playing games, searching the web, or recording video. Also under the hood is a capacious 5,000 mAh battery for all-day usage. But if you forget to charge overnight or run low on juice during the day, an 80W SuperVOOC charger charges from zero in about 27 minutes.
The OnePlus 11 offers a 6.7-inch, QHD+ AMOLED display that provides plenty of screen real estate for gaming streaming, doom scrolling, and video editing. An adaptive refresh rate from 1Hz up to 120Hz ensures the smoothest experience when you need it and battery savings when you don't. Combining that stunning, vibrant display and performance prowess with a refined design, elegant software, and a superior camera system, the OnePlus11 is hard to beat mid-range phone option.
6. Google Pixel 7 Pro
Best Premium Android Phone
The Google Pixel 7 Pro might only be a yearly upgrade over the Pixel 6 Pro, but it adds plenty of polish to an already great phone. The phone runs on the newest Android 13, which allows you to customize your phone more than ever before. Its also powered by Google’s second-gen Tensor G2 chip, which runs the new software and AI-powered features more quicker and securely. This phone really stands out with its ability to quickly take Night Sight photos, perfectly transcribe almost anything you tell it, and live translation of foreign language in both speech and text
Of course this phone offers stunning camera capabilities. The telephoto camera is particularly special thanks to it’s 48MP sensor and 5x optical zoom lens. What’s more, Super Res Zoom gives you surprisingly clear photos up to 10x magnification and you can zoom up to 30x. It also has a 50MP wide-angle and 12MP ultrawide cameras so you can shoot to your heart's content. If you notice any fuzzy frames after your done, deblur does a spectacular job of sharpening things. The camera, refined design, and reasonable price makes the Google Pixel 7 Pro our top choice. There only real flaw is the face-unlock only work in bright and well lit environments.
What to look for in an Android phone
Making the final decision on a phone purchase is not easy, so we've helped narrow down what to look for.
Storage space on phones is crucial. If filming videos, playing games, or downloading loads of music is important, only a few (and increasingly fewer) come with a Micro SD slot to expand storage. That means you'll have to spend more to get more, and that's if a phone offers it. Some of our picks have up to 1TB of storage, which should suit most. Of course, you can always store files to different cloud services, opening more space on your phone.
RAM is crucial to a phone’s operating system. Having more RAM means you can run more applications at the same time. 4GB RAM is enough for standard operation, but additional RAM is necessary for heavy gaming and app use. All of our picks have at least 6GB of RAM, so you can get to gaming and scrolling with little worry.
Finally, the phone’s processor is essential for your device to run smoothly. The number of cores and clock speed generally determine how quickly a phone can run processes and functions. Snapdragon processors are often used in Android phones. All of our picks use them except for the Google Pixel devices, which use Google’s Tensor G2 Chip. Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 and Tensor G2 are currently the best processors out there, and a good portion of our list sports one or the other.
Best Android Phones FAQ
What is the difference between an Android phone and a smart phone?
Android phones are just a type of smart phone. Ever since the iPhone started the 'smartphone' trend back in 2007, Google has been competing with its own smartphone OS, Android. An Android phone is just a smartphone that's running Google's Android operating system, and with a few exceptions, anything that's running Android is also a smartphone.
Jackie Thomas is the Hardware and Buying Guides Editor at IGN and the PC components queen. You can follow her @Jackiecobra
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