The Best Android Phones of 2024

Top models from Samsung and Google

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The best Android phones should incorporate high-end features with a good combination of price and performance, and the phones on our list do just that. You should be able to find something for everyone here.

Here's a look at the best Android smartphones.

in this article
Pros
  • Upgraded main camera

  • Cool new camera editing features

Cons
  • Pricey

The Pixel 8 and 8 Pro are the latest smartphones from Google, and both include a generous 7 years of OS updates. The Pixel 8 is smaller and lighter than its predecessor and has an upgraded main camera that can capture more light.

One intriguing new feature is Best Take, where you can swap faces from multiple photos to create a group shot where everyone's eyes are open and smiling.

It also features Magic Editor, which can remove people from the background, move the subject, and change the background of a photo.

The Pixel 8 Pro has a 6.7-inch screen, a larger battery, and a 48MP telephoto lens.

Specs
Display Size  6.2 inches
Resolution 2400 x 1080
Chip Google Tensor G3
Main Cameras 50MP/48MP
Battery 4575 mAh
Pros
  • Fantastic battery life

  • Fun new AI features

  • Gets 7 years of OS and security updates

Cons
  • Pricey

The Galaxy S24 packs the powerful Gen 3 Snapdragon chip, and Gorilla Glass protects its gorgeous 6.2-inch screen from breakage and cracks. It has many AI features, including Live Translate, AI-generated note summaries, and more.

Specs
Display Size 6.2 inches 
Resolution 2340x1080
Chip Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3
Main Cameras 50MP/12MP/10MP
Battery 4000 mAh

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5

Samsung

Pros
  • Slim design

  • Improved hinge

  • Excellent cameras

Cons
  • Pricey

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 is nearly the same size as the Fold4 with an updated hinge design that folds flat. The gorgeous 2400 x 1080 resolution screen has a 120Hz refresh rate and measures 7.6 inches when folded out, making it about the same size as a small tablet.

There are three storage capacities (256GB, 512GB, and 1TB), all of which have 12GB of RAM, plenty for multimedia, productivity, and gaming.

The camera array is the same as the Fold4, consisting of a 10MP cover camera, 4MP under-display camera (for selfies), and three rear cameras: 12MP ultra-wide, 50MP wide angle, and 10MP telephoto.

The Z Fold5 supports fast charging (including wireless) and it has a dust and water resistance rating of IPX8.

Specs
Display Size 6.1 inches and 7.6 inches 
Resolution 2316 x 904 and 2176 x 1812
Chip Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2
Main Cameras  50MP/12MP/10MP
Battery 4400 mAh

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5.

Samsung

Pros
  • Larger Cover Screen support more widgets

  • Improved hinge

Cons
  • Battery life isn't great

The biggest (literally) difference between the Galaxy Z Flip5 and Z Flip4 is the cover display's size. The Flip5's 3.4-inch screen is larger than the Flip4's 1.9-inch screen and has a higher resolution. The main display is the same, at 6.7 inches.

The Cover Screen, also called the Flex Window, has more customizations, including the clock face, message replies, multi-widget view, and more. You can swipe to access quick settings and check notifications without unfolding the phone.

It also has a new Flex Hinge, which is easier to open and close and lies flat when opened.

Specs
Display Size 3.3 inches and 6.6 inches 
Resolution 720 x 748 and 2640 x 1080
Chip Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2
Main Cameras 12MP/12MP
Battery 3700 mAh
Pros
  • Nice set of features for the price

  • Great camera

Cons
  • Screen has only a 90Hz refresh rate

Google's Pixel 7 shares the same basic features and design as the Pixel 6, except it's smaller and more pocket-friendly. Like the Galaxy S23, it's protected by Gorilla Glass Victus to protect against drops. It also has IP68 water and dust resistance.

Its screen has a 90Hz refresh rate screen compared to the S23's 120Hz. While the screen is responsive, that higher refresh rate (found on the Pixel 7 Pro) offers smoother scrolling.

It supports reverse wireless charging, meaning you can charge smaller devices, like a smartwatch, using your Pixel 7. The camera sensors are unchanged from the Pixel 6, but the software offers performance improvements, including Portrait mode.

The Pixel 7 Pro has a 6.7-inch display, a larger battery, and a 48 MP telephoto camera.

Specs
Display Size 6.3 inches 
Resolution 2400x1080
Chip Google Tensor G2
Main Cameras 50MP/12MP
Battery 4355 mAh
Pros
  • Impressive camera

  • Supports wireless charging

Cons
  • Not as durable as Pixel 7

Google's Pixel 7a has a slightly smaller screen than the Pixel 7 and lacks the Gorilla Glass Victus for extra protection against drops. It has IP67 water and dust resistance. (The Pixel 7 has IP68.)

The camera has slightly better specs than the Pixel 7, with a 64MP main camera and 13MP ultra-wide lens. The result is similar output from each smartphone camera.

Specs
Display Size 6.1 inches 
Resolution 2400 x 1080
Chip Google Tensor G2
Main Cameras  64MP/13MP
Battery 4300 mAh
Pros
  • Excellent battery life

  • Significant speed boost over S22

  • Gets 5 years of software updates

Cons
  • Bland design

  • Cameras could be better

The Galaxy S23 is a sleek and capable Android smartphone. It packs a powerful Android chip with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2; the 120Hz screen is beautiful (and protected with Gorilla Glass Victus 2), and battery life is much improved over the S22.

It has the same cameras as the S23+ and should suffice for most people.

Specs
Display Size 6.1 inches 
Resolution 2340x1080
Chip Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2
Main Cameras 50MP/10MP/12MP
Battery 3900 mAh
Samsung Galaxy S23 series
Samsung Galaxy S23 series (Samsung).

What to Look For in an Android

While all current Android phones provide the same basic functionality, their little differences can significantly impact how you use your phone daily.

Every Android phone is an amalgamation of various components, features, and perks, so you’ll want to ensure you get as many of your must-haves as your budget allows.

Screen

A premium Android flagship phone typically has a screen that is 6 inches or larger diagonally. Compact smartphones aren't usually much smaller than that: it's rare to see a brand-name Android phone with a screen smaller than 5.5 inches. These phones are taller than in the past thanks to aspect ratios of 18:9 or even 20:9, which helps phones avoid feeling overly broad in your hand.

Even so, larger-screened phones can be challenging to control with one hand.

Beyond size, your next most significant consideration is screen resolution. Higher is better: many phones opt for 1080p resolution. Some pricier phones reach 1440p (or Quad HD) resolution, while others even opt for 1920p (4K Ultra HD).

Some pricier phones offer increased screen refresh rates of 90Hz or 120Hz (60Hz is standard), meaning menus and animations look smoother, which is especially important for gaming. Also, phones with OLED or AMOLED displays tend to have bolder contrast and deeper black levels, while LCD panels typically don't look as punchy.

Additionally, some phones offer always-on screens, which means you'll see details like time, battery life, and incoming notifications on an otherwise black screen when not in active use.

Performance

It’s generally true that the more you spend on a new smartphone, the more processing power you’ll get. Qualcomm’s Snapdragon processors are used in most top phones. Google uses its Tensor chips in its latest Pixel phones. Research the latest processors to understand how up to date your smartphone is.

A powerful processor paired with a solid amount of RAM (usually 4GB or more) and a quality graphics processing unit (GPU) will typically result in a phone that feels snappy in everyday usage, can switch between multiple apps with ease, and can run visually impressive games without sluggishness. Every step down from flagship to mid-range, and ultimately the budget range, tends to result in slower-feeling phones that are less capable of running top games.

Cameras

As with processing power, you'll typically get better cameras the more you spend on a phone. Flagship Android phones today often pack several cameras with varying capabilities.

Most of today's big flagship phones have two or three back cameras, and even mid-range phones give you two or four back cameras. However, mid-range phones are less likely to deliver outstanding results, and budget phones usually produce good results at best.

Today's Android phones all come with front-facing "selfie" cameras, and sometimes more than one—you might get a wider-angle camera for group shots, too. These cameras are sometimes in a little "notch" at the top of the screen or in a "punch-hole" camera cutout near the top, or perhaps just in the black strip of bezel above the screen.

Software

All Android phones run Android… obviously, right? While that’s true, there are different versions of Android. More importantly, each hardware manufacturer puts its stamp on the operating system, and thus the interface may look or act differently. Again, it’s well worth getting hands-on with an Android phone before you buy it to ensure that you like the feel and flow of the customized interface.

Google’s Pixel phones run the purest and latest versions of Android because Google is the primary developer of Android, and its services are considered essential to the experience. Each maker must release updates to its “skinned” version of Android, so it can take many months for an update to hit your phone after Google releases its new core version.

Battery Life

Nearly any smartphone you buy today is equipped to give you a solid full day of uptime, from when you wake up to when you plug it back in at bedtime. Some phones will provide you with even more.

Many top-end phones offer wireless and wired charging capabilities, which means you can put the glass back of the phone onto a wireless charging pad to top up the internal battery. It’s usually a slower process, but it’s also very convenient.

Some phones also offer a reverse wireless charging feature, so you can put another wirelessly chargeable phone on the back to share some of your battery life. Some accessories, such as wireless earbud cases, can also be charged on the back of these phones.

Note that removable batteries are incredibly uncommon with today’s smartphones.

Storage

The amount of internal storage in a phone determines how many apps and files you can carry around. Many higher-end phones start at about 128GB of internal storage, a significant amount to play around with. Higher-capacity versions may be available for more money, such as 256GB or 512GB if you plan on carrying a lot of local music or video files or want a bunch of mobile games downloaded.

Less expensive phones may only come with 64GB of internal storage, which limits how much data you can carry around. Luckily, many phones let you expand your storage with tiny microSD memory cards, which are affordable, or you can rely on cloud storage.

Security

Today, you'll find a fingerprint sensor on nearly every Android smartphone, but some aren't immediately visible. Most are located on the back where your pointer finger would generally rest, but some are placed in the power button on the phone's right side.

However, some higher-end phones put their fingerprint sensors within the screen. These aren't always as speedy and reliable as traditional sensors. Samsung's ultrasonic sensors on its expensive Galaxy phones have been spotty in recognizing your finger to unlock the phone. In contrast, the optical sensors in OnePlus phones, for example, are pretty swift.

Many phones also offer facial unlock capabilities. Look for an Android with 3D facial scanning hardware since it's more precise and secure than 2D cameras.

FAQ
  • Which Android phone has the best camera?

    The top-tier Android phones from companies like Samsung, OnePlus, Motorola, Google, and LG have great cameras and usually boast multiple sensors for different purposes. You typically get a primary sensor, a depth sensor for bokeh shots, an ultrawide sensor, and a telephoto sensor for a zoomed-in image. Other features include AI enhancements, with the Google Pixel series being particularly well-optimized in the software and post-processing department, especially regarding low-light shots.

  • What is the best unlocked Android phone?

    Most smartphones on this list can be purchased unlocked, like the latest Samsung Galaxy, and the Google Pixel can work on any major carrier. Read our guide to buying an unlocked phone to learn more.

  • What is the best Android phone for Boost Mobile?

    Boost Mobile supports all major smartphones on its network. The phones tend to be more mid-range and affordable, but that doesn't mean you have to compromise.

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