What's the best Android phone? We tested hundreds, here's our top 5 (original) (raw)

The Android world is confusing, with lots of brands and models that can make it difficult to pick the right phone for you. To help, we’ve tested and reviewed hundreds of devices at Android Authority and picked out the best Android phones you can buy in 2024, starting with a device we think everyone will love.

If you’re not too familiar with smartphone tech, check out our detailed buyer’s guide below to learn what to look out for.

The best Android phone for most people is the Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus

Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus

Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus

AA Editor's Choice

Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus

Bright, sharp 1440p display • Excellent update commitment • Handy Galaxy AI features

New hardware, powerful AI tools

Packed with a lengthy suite of new AI features, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus is the 6.7-inch-sized base-model of the S24 series. Sharing most specs and features with the standard S24 model, the S24 Plus offers a larger battery, more storage space, 12GB of RAM, and a bump to Quad HD resolution. Built for those that want a larger display, but are not interested in the very best features available only in the S24 Ultra.

The Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus is the best smartphone for most people. It might not be the flashiest on paper, but it strikes a satisfying balance between hardware, software, and value that’s difficult to ignore. Notably, the Galaxy S24 Plus is just the latest Plus-line model from Samsung that topped our list. The Galaxy S22 Plus and Galaxy S23 Plus previously held this honor, and we still think both of these devices are still good buys, even in 2024. However, the new model brings just enough enhancements to win us over.

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While all Galaxy S24 phones have an array of excellent specs and fantastic cameras, the primary reason we think the Galaxy S24 Plus is the best option in Samsung’s new flagship line is its value proposition. This model saw no price increases in 2024, offering upgraded battery size, a larger display, and an extensive software policy on top of an already great phone.

What makes it stand out

The best-value Android phone is the Google Pixel 9

Google Pixel 9

Google Pixel 9

AA Recommended

Google Pixel 9

Powerful Gemini AI tools • Excellent build quality, refined design • Extensive update policy

The vanilla Pixel 9.

The Pixel 9 rocks a 6.3-inch display, Tensor G4 chipset, 12GB of RAM, and at least 128GB of internal storage.

Google’s base flagship once again makes our list, even if it continues to rise in price. Simply put, the Pixel 9 is one of those Android phones that just keeps getting better over time, allowing you to stretch your value even further after you’ve finished paying it off. Whereas the Pixel 8 felt like a way to introduce Gemini to the world, the Pixel 9 feels like it’s bringing the AI companion into its own.

The Pixel 9 once again launched with one of Google’s in-house Tensor chips, this time the Tensor G4, which continues to perform better while staying cooler than its predecessor. It’s still centered around machine learning and bringing Gemini into even more corners of the Pixel-verse, but it’s a plenty capable chip in day-to-day life. This year, the Tensor G4 is powering an updated set of cameras, with a high-resolution 48MP ultrawide sensor taking the place of Google’s previous 12MP option. It’s a larger sensor with a wider maximum aperture, making the Pixel 9 even more capable in low light than before.

Mix in a continued seven years of Pixel updates, and the Pixel 9 will stay current long after you’re ready to upgrade.

What makes it stand out

The best premium Android phone is the Galaxy S24 Ultra

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

AA Editor's Choice

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

Powerful, flexible cameras • Excellent update commitment • Brilliant flat display

The best of the best in the S24 series

Samsung's true flagship device, the Galaxy S24 Ultra offers the very best specs and features from any Galaxy phone to date. Ai and camera functions are the name of the game, with a 200MP primary camera, 50MP 5x telephoto, 10MP 3x telephoto, and 12MP ultrawide shooters. Smaller display bezels, 2,600 nit display, 5,000 mAh battery, an advanced cooling vapor chamber, up to 1TB of UFS 4.0 storage, and 12GB of RAM make for a powerful mobile computing system. The new ProVisual Engine offers AI-powered camera tools for photo and video capture.

The Pixel 9 might offer the best value, but if you want all the bells and whistles, we recommend the Galaxy S24 Ultra. Weighing in at over 230 grams, it strikes a stark shadow over the Galaxy S24 Plus with sharp edges, a 6.8-inch flat display, and an S Pen tucked away in its flank. The stylus is still one of the core reasons to purchase the Ultra model, making jotting down notes a breeze. There are new tricks this year, too. Thanks to Samsung’s AI focus, a new Note Assist feature automates formatting and correcting your messy S Pen scribbles.

So why is this not the best phone you can buy? Well, it probably is if all you care about is specs. But, it’s by no means the pragmatic choice. The Galaxy S24 Ultra will demand an additional 100thisyear,pushingitfurtherintothe100 this year, pushing it further into the 100thisyear,pushingitfurtherintothe1,000 bracket. It’s now $300 more expensive than the Galaxy S24 Plus, and we don’t think its value proposition is as convincing as its smaller sibling. Considering the seven-year Android software promise, it’s still a viable long-term investment.

What makes it stand out

The ROG Phone 9 Pro is the best Android phone for gaming

ASUS ROG Phone 9 Pro

ASUS ROG Phone 9 Pro

AA Editor's Choice

ASUS ROG Phone 9 Pro

Overkill performance • Outstanding battery life • Fast, universal charging

Peak gaming power.

The ROG Phone 9 Pro is ASUS' flagship gaming smartphone for 2024 and early-to-mid 2025. It boasts unrivaled performance, thanks to its powerhouse Snapdragon 8 Elite chip, and advanced gaming features to propel your gaming experience up another level.

Phones marketed at gamers have always had some glaring omissions or unusual design choices, but the ROG Phone 9 Pro is a welcome exception. It’s not only capable as an everyday companion, but it brings new AI features to the table for a little more flexibility. The latest ROG Phone 9 Pro has rapidly become the best gaming phone you can buy, and it’s done so while escaping the typical pitfalls of niche gaming devices and becoming more like the ASUS Zenfone than ever before.

Perhaps the biggest feather in the ROG Phone 9 Pro’s cap is its power aplenty. If your heart is set on gaming, the Snapdragon 8 Elite chip is more than enough to grind you through titles like PUBG Mobile with an overpowered X-Mode that maxes out both the CPU and GPU. Oh, and ASUS’s new gaming phone has a whopping 5,800mAh battery that’s brought impressive boosts to both web browsing and video playback in our controlled testing.

What makes it stand out

The smartest Android flagships are the Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro XL

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Google Pixel 9 Pro XL

Google Pixel 9 Pro XL

The best specs in the Pixel 9 series
Gorgeous display
Seven years of software updates

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Google Pixel 9 Pro

Google Pixel 9 Pro

Impressive AI-powered features
Excellent build quality
Flexible, capable cameras
Reliable update commitment

We’ve already extolled the virtues of the standard Google Pixel 9 above, but now it’s time for the Pixel 9 Pro series to get its time in the limelight. That’s right, there are now two Pixel 9 devices (well, three if you count the Pixel 9 Pro Fold). One of them, the Pixel 9 Pro XL, is Google’s largest and most expensive non-folding flagship, while the other, the Pixel 9 Pro, is the pocket-friendly Pro phone I’ve waited years for.

Since this is the first time Google has come up with two Pro-grade Pixels, I figure it’s easiest to cover their differences rather than similarities. The Pixel 9 Pro is obviously the smaller of the two, offering a flat 6.3-inch display to the XL’s flat 6.8-inch option. It has a slightly smaller battery and slightly slower charging but is actually not as picky about which USB PD PPS charger you plug it into.

Outside of those differences, the two Pixel 9 Pros are almost identical. They have the same trio of high-resolution cameras, pairing a 50MP primary sensor with 48MP telephoto and ultrawide sensors. As always, though, its the features that Google introduces as part of its years of Pixel updates that will make the Pixel 9 Pro series excellent.

What makes it stand out

Honorable mentions

While we’ve listed the best Android phones we’ve tested above, there are a few more options out there that might better suit your needs. Some are Europe-only, and others are just a bit too niche to earn a top spot on the list. Here are our honorable mentions:

What we look for in the best Android phones

Here at Android Authority, we’ve reviewed hundreds of Android phones over the years, but you may have different criteria when selecting the device for you. Here’s a short list of things we consider during our time with each device so you can decide which ones are a priority.

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Price and value

Smartphones are now regularly pushing $1,000 or more, but spending more won’t always get you a better device. We look at price in relation to what a phone and its competitors offer, both from a hardware and software perspective. Obviously, in this particular list, we’re looking at the cream of the Android crop so you’ll find mostly flagship devices, but we’ve got a separate list for the best budget Android devices, too.

Performance

When we talk about performance, we’re mostly talking about a phone’s processor or system on a chip (SoC). At this point, even mid-range devices are capable of great everyday performance, but the latest Qualcomm powerhouses are necessary for smooth scrolling on speedy, high-resolution screens or getting the best framerates in demanding games. Other options, like Google’s Tensor, focus on machine learning to unlock things like better photo processing and real-time translation. Another thing we consider is RAM. We recommend at least 6GB of RAM for the best experience, with gains falling off after 12GB.

Cameras

For the best Android phones, we expect more than a single lens to provide more versatility in mobile photography. Megapixel counts play some role here in providing good detail, but nowadays, the biggest determining factor is software. Google has traditionally been the king of photo processing, but others like Samsung, Sony, and OPPO are also top performers. Check out our list of the best camera phones for the best of the best.

Connectivity

5G isn’t quite as ubiquitous as we’d like in 2024, but if you’re buying a new phone, we recommend devices with 5G to futureproof it as much as possible. It’s worth mentioning that there are a few flavors of 5G available: the speedy but short-range mmWave and the slightly less speedy sub-6GHz. Not all phones support mmWave, but unless you live in a major city in the US, odds are you don’t need it.

Build materials

Most premium Android phones are made of some combination of glass and metal, but they vary in how much protection they provide. Gorilla Glass Victus is significantly more resistant than Gorilla Glass 5, for example, although you’ll probably want to slap a case on it regardless. You should also keep in mind that foldable devices are particularly prone to damage, especially in the vulnerable hinge mechanism.

What about iPhones?

You’ve just finished reading about the best Android phones, so we have an idea of where you stand in the iOS vs Android debate. However, nothing is ever set in stone. If you have an iPad or maybe a MacBook, you might decide that it’s best to stick with Apple’s ecosystem. On the other hand, you might be ready to break free and tap into more customization options. You’ll face different app selections on both platforms, but it’s all about your comfort level.

For what it’s worth, the iPhone 16 series is Apple’s current gold standard, but its older models are still well worth considering. Check out more on the long-standing iOS vs Android debate right here.

FAQs

There are some specific options for seniors with simplified menus, or we recommend a Samsung device for its Easy Mode feature. You can also load up a launcher like Big Launcher or Simple Launcher to make menus and dialers more approachable.

We talk an awful lot about RAM every time we mention a smartphone, but how much RAM is enough? If you’re only covering the bare basics, you might be able to get away with 4GB, but 8GB is more appropriate if you have eyes on multitasking. Some heavy-duty gamers might even want 12GB or 16GB just to keep up with anything and everything.

Yes! Well, some of them. Most recent flagships are worth buying, even up to a year or two after release. You can usually save a good amount of money at this point and still get good performance. At this point, we don’t recommend buying a 4G flagship, but most 5G flagships are still good to go.

This is a tricky one. If you’re eyeing a flagship device, you’ve probably seen the likes of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, Dimensity 9300, and Exynos 2400 thrown around. Each comes with its own list of devices, but we’ve put them through the wringer for you. You can see how the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 compares to the Dimensity 9300 in our tests, while we found that the Exynos 2400 is a surprisingly adept chipset.