The best Android phones you can buy right now

The Galaxy S24 Ultra is the best smartphone you can buy, so it should come as no surprise to see it top this list.

It’s arguably the ultimate smartphone, packing almost every premium feature you can expect into one huge device. However, the gorgeous 6.8-inch display and built-in S Pen stylus are certainly worth it.

Other highlights include sublime performance from an overclocked version of the flagship Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset and strong battery life from the 5000mAh cell. The cameras might not be the best on any smartphone, but they’re not far off, offering impressive versatility across four lenses.

Samsung’s One UI software is intuitive and relatively easy to use, and the company’s new AI features are genuinely useful. Throw in a class-leading seven years of updates and you’ve got yourself a superb phone.

Aside from the imposing design and relatively slow charging, the price tag is the main thing that counts against the S24 Ultra. But if you can afford it, you won’t be disappointed.

The Pixel 8 Pro is the best smartphone you can buy right now. A combination of premium hardware and advanced software make it very easy to recommend.

Google’s Tensor G3 chip is key, enabling both great performance and a range of advanced photography features. Alongside excellent camera hardware, it’s the best point-and-shoot phone camera for still images.

While a 213g phone with a large 6.7-inch display won’t be for everyone, the high-resolution 120Hz OLED screen here is a joy to use. With slick Android 14 software and an incredible seven years of updates, the Pixel 8 Pro is the smartphone to beat in 2023.

However, that doesn’t mean it’s the best for everyone. The combination of average battery life and slow charging is frustrating, while the regular Pixel 8 is a better choice if you’re looking for something more compact.

In the past, Xiaomi’s version of Android has often prevented us from recommending its phones. Despite a rebrand, the new HyperOS skin isn’t a big step forward, but it shouldn’t detract from just how good this phone is.

Undoubtedly, the highlight is the cameras. Alongside the Photography Kit accessory (sold separately), they transform the phone into a genuine DSLR replacement for many people. The image quality and versatility across all four 50Mp rear lenses and the 32Mp selfie camera is simply superb.

There’s lots more to like too, including a gorgeous display, stunning premium design and great performance. Battery life is strong, and you get a 90W fast charger in the box. From a hardware perspective, it’s hard to fault.

Aside from price, the main reason you might not want to buy it is Xiaomi’s HyperOS software, which still contains a lot of bloatware and can get frustrating. But if you can look beyond this, the 14 Ultra will give you an unrivalled photography experience.

Looking for something more affordable? The regular Xiaomi 14 is also a great choice.

If you can’t afford the Pixel 8 or 8 Pro, then Google has another option for you: the decidedly affordable Pixel 7a. While the Pixel 8a is now available, its predecessor is still the phone to get if you want value for money.

This mid-range still packs a Tensor G2 chipset for solid performance, along with a familiar design. But it’s a slightly smaller phone than the 8 and 8 Pro, and made from plastic rather than glass.

There are downside, of course. The camera specs aren’t quite the same, though it still impresses. You’ll also get slower charging and only a 90Hz refresh rate on the display rather than 120Hz on the flagships.

If you can live with those downsides though, this is an excellent option for the price. Shots from the main camera are the best you’ll find on any mid-range phone.

The OnePlus 12 is significantly more expensive than the OnePlus 11, which was a great handset for the money. But this extra expense is justified – a stunning design, significant performance upgrade and the introduction of wireless charging make a real difference.

Its Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset speeds through tasks with ease (including gaming), then combines with a 5400mAh battery for superb battery life. When you do run low, you can choose between 100W wired and 50W wireless charging, though the 80W charger in the box will be plenty fast enough for most people.

The 120Hz AMOLED screen is among the largest on any phone at 6.82-inches, but also one of the best. The slick software experience is also a joy to use, even if the four OS updates and five years of security updates is a small step down from the best around.

Rear cameras, a weakness of earlier OnePlus phones, are very good on the whole. But the ultrawide and selfie lenses aren’t the best, and the IP65 rating means it’s not protected against submersion in water.

Nonetheless, none of these should be dealbreakers for most people. The OnePlus 12 still undercuts many flagships on price, making it a great option.

The Motorola Razr 40 Ultra – also known as the Razr+ in the US – is the best foldable right now.

The latest Razr packs a larger and more useful exterior screen that’s the biggest on any flip phone yet, extending almost entirely across the phone’s outer side. It even lets you run full Android apps without opening the phone, though some work better than others.

Beyond that, you can expect good battery life, great dust and water-resistance, and a capable main camera – though the other lenses are a little lacking. The improved hinge design also allows the Razr 40 Ultra to close completely flat and feel more solid as a result.

However, it’s also worth considering the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5, which is a great alternative.

If you just need a smartphone for regular everyday use, look no further than the Galaxy A15 5G. It offers everything most people need in a smartphone, yet costs under £200/$200.

Of course, there are compromises compared to high-end phones, but Samsung has been smart about where it’s made them. An attractive design is clearly inspired by the company’s flagships, even if less premium materials have been used.

The display is still OLED and offers a smooth 90Hz refresh rate, while its lower resolution helps the excellent battery life. You also get Samsung’s slick One UI software experience and a decent three years of Android OS updates, plus a main rear camera that’s very serviceable.

Performance is slow at times, but waiting a few more seconds for things to load is hardly a dealbreaker. And unless you’re planning on getting your phone wet or need fast charging, it’s easy to recommend.

If you don’t want 5G, it’s also worth considering the Samsung Galaxy A15 (4G), but it’s not just 5G that you lose there.

The middle phone in Samsung’s Galaxy S24 range isn’t quite the all-singing, all-dancing S24 Ultra, but it’s arguably a better phone for most people.

You still get most of the fundamentals of Samsung’s ultra-flagship, including a gorgeous large display, superb battery life, useful AI features and that class-leading seven-year update commitment.

US buyers will still get the overclocked Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, but even the Exynos 2400 in the UK delivers strong performance.

If you can do without a stylus or loads of storage but still want a Samsung flagship, the S24+ is the phone to get.

The Zenfone 10 is a full-force flagship in a small size, and with remarkably few compromises for it.

The 5.9in display is one of the smallest on the market, especially on the Android side, though note that overall the phone is about the same size as the regular Galaxy S24

The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 and up to 16GB of RAM mark this as a serious performance phone, and it also boasts excellent battery life, which puts other compact smartphones to shame.

The gimbal-stabilised main camera impresses, especially at night, though there are definitely better cameras on similarly priced rivals – especially when it comes to options like a telephoto lens.

Given the phone is so good, it’s also frustrating that Asus is only promising two major Android updates, though the phone will at least get security support through to 2027.

If that’s a dealbreaker for you, go for the regular Samsung Galaxy S24 instead. But with the more recent Zenfone 11 Ultra much bigger and less noteworthy as a result, this is still the Asus phone that most people should buy.

The Open is technically OnePlus’ first ever foldable, though parent company Oppo has plenty of experience. And it shows – this is an impressively accomplished device with few compromises.

The displays are the real highlight. A 6.31-inch cover screen looks just like a regular smartphone, then opens to reveal a 7.82-inch inner display with a barely noticeable crease. Both are 120Hz OLED panels, and look fantastic.

OnePlus has done its best to make the most of this larger screen, with various features that make multitasking easy. But Android’s lack of support for third-party apps, combined with the high price tag, remain the main reasons most people shouldn’t buy one.

It’s a shame, as the rear cameras and design are a real hit. Performance is great too, and average battery life is offset by 67W fast charging via the adaptor in the box.