Best Android Phones 2024: From flagships to budget options tested and ranked

With so many options available, choosing the best android phones is difficult. You could go for a Samsung Galaxy, but the software may not suit you well. Pixel phones are excellent, but you may want a different future set. And OnePlus may no longer consistently provide flagship-killer phones.

But we’ve examined all the phones listed below, from battery tests and benchmarks to how they feel in everyday usage. So you can be confident that any phone on our list is worth your consideration. All of these Android phones are pleasant to use while still being strong. This directory has something for everyone, from low-cost phones to popular, feature-rich flagships. If you’re looking for the former, you might be better off browsing our best inexpensive phone guide, which Google powers. So read on for the best android phones available now. Let’s dive in:

Best Android Phones 2024

• Best camera: Google Pixel 8 Pro
• Best display: Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
• Best battery life: Honor Magic 6 Pro
• Best foldable: Motorola Razr 40 Ultra
• Best for gaming: Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro Edition
• Best small Android phone: Asus Zenfone 10
• Best mid-range Android: Google Pixel 7a
• Best value: Motorola Edge 40 Neo

GOOGLE PIXEL 8 PRO

If you’re looking for an Android phone with the best photographic experience available, the Pixel 8 Pro is our current top selection. It’s not better in every way than the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, but it costs £250/$300 less and includes a slew of smart software features that our reviewer utilized.

The 8 Pro, like any Pixel phone, is mostly about two things: Google software and photography. The cameras remain largely unchanged from what we saw on the Pixel 7 Pro, but updated technology improves performance across all three rear lenses.

There are also software improvements, such as a slew of new options and a brilliant Best Take feature that substitutes funny/awkward faces with smiling alternatives that you’ll want to use.

Photos taken with a phone work well in almost any situation. They are richer and more immersive than those from the Galaxy S24 series, and frequently perform better in low-light circumstances, despite the S24 Ultra’s significantly greater megapixel count. The zoom may not compare to Samsung’s Ultra attempts, but if you limit it to approximately 5x, the results are excellent.

The phone is powered by Google’s Tensor G3 chipset, which, like previous entrants, isn’t the fastest around – many phones on this list will score higher in benchmark tests – with the emphasis instead on artificial intelligence. This chip improves many software additions, including voice transcription, and everything runs well.

Samsung has begun to reclaim some of that interest with Galaxy AI on the S24 series, although the Pixel 8 Pro still offers more opportunities than the S24. However, whether this will continue in a year remains to be seen.

The phone also impresses elsewhere. The screen is comparable to high-end options from Apple and Samsung, while battery life is beginning to fall behind the competition. The Pixel 8 Pro also benefits from Google’s increased long-term support, which includes seven OS upgrades that will take it up to Android 21.

SAMSUNG GALAXY S24 ULTRA

At first glance, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra seems very similar to its predecessor, which previously topped this list. But take a closer look and you’ll discover some small changes. The 6.8-inch display is now flat, and the phone’s frame is built of durable yet lightweight titanium, resulting in a phone that feels somewhat lighter but much nicer in one’s hands.

Under the hood, you’ll discover a strong Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip optimized for the Galaxy S24 series, which is available in all S24 Ultra variants, not only those in the United States. The chip’s capability not only enables blazing-fast gaming but also supports a slew of new generative AI features, such as Generative Edit, which allows users to completely recompose a photo after it has been taken with no need for Photoshop expertise. There are also live translation options and other useful tools.

The rear camera array still features a 200-megapixel sensor, but the main alteration is the replacement of the 10MP 10x telephoto camera with a 50MP 5x zoom periscope camera. This results in greater detail at the expense of true optical zoom. However, with the ability to crop to 10x, there is no real tradeoff here, and the new telephoto camera adds to an overall more versatile phone photography package.

Of course, the Galaxy S24 Ultra isn’t cheap, but as a do-it-all phone with incredible hardware, capabilities, smart tools, and more, it’s the greatest Android phone you can buy right now.

HONOR MAGIC 6 PRO

If you’re looking for a phone with a long battery life, the Honor Magic 6 Pro is a great option. This high-end handset competes with the Galaxy S24 Ultra not just on screen and camera technology, but also on its large 5,600mAh silicon-ion battery, which provides prolonged longevity and improved performance in colder areas.

The Magic 6 Pro’s 6.8-inch curved AMOLED display is a marvel, with curved edges, a silky 120Hz refresh rate, and a plethora of eye-care choices, providing a delightful viewing experience whether you’re watching Netflix or browsing through TikTok, all with a peak HDR brightness of 5,000 nits.

Its camera system is equally outstanding, with the primary 50MP camera boasting a stunning dynamic range thanks to a custom HDR sensor and selectable f/1.4-f/2.0 apertures. The 180MP periscope lens, which has the best resolution and largest sensor of its kind, provides exceptional zoom capabilities with minimum detail loss, even at high magnification settings.

The 5,600mAh battery is a noteworthy feature, made from eco-friendly silicon-ion rather than standard lithium-ion, which improves performance at low temperatures. Its capacity outperforms most competitors, allowing for all-day use and nearly two days of battery life before requiring a recharge.

With a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, 80W fast charging, facial recognition technology comparable to the iPhone, and an appealing design, the Magic 6 Pro is a well-rounded powerhouse.

MOTOROLA RAZR 40 ULTRA

After years of dominating the clamshell foldable industry with its Galaxy Z Flip lineup, Motorola has knocked Samsung off its perch with the Razr 40 Ultra.

The Razr 40 Ultra elevates the clamshell experience with its big 3.6-inch pOLED external display and super-smooth 144Hz refresh rate.

This large display size supports not only widgets like the Oppo Find N2 Flip but also complete Android apps. You can operate smart home equipment, answer messages, and even obtain directions from Google Maps without having to open the phone. This not only lowers the need to open the device frequently, but it is also more pleasant to use when folded.

However, you won’t always rely on the external display, especially since there’s a tall, narrow 6.9-inch pOLED display inside. This screen is extremely smooth at 165Hz and features LTPO technology, which dynamically adjusts the refresh rate based on your actions.

While the main 12MP camera may not appear to be very outstanding on paper, its combination of optical image stabilization (OIS), phase-detection autofocus (PDAF), and a wide f/1.5 aperture enables it to excel in both well-lit and low-light conditions. Although it doesn’t quite equal the quality of top-tier flagship cameras, it’s impressive for a thin, foldable gadget.

The phone is powered by an aging Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 chipset, which may deter some customers. Nonetheless, everyday performance is good, albeit it does overheat during graphics-intensive gaming sessions.

With a 3,800mAh battery, the Razr 40 Ultra outperforms the Razr (2022)’s 3,500mAh cell. It can persist all day, but it may not make it through the second day. The good news is that it charges in less than an hour owing to the included 30W rapid charging technology.

ASUS ROG PHONE 8 PRO

The Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro Edition is not the most well-rounded Android phone on this list, but it shines at its primary focus: gaming.

There are numerous gaming-related features here, ranging from AirTriggers that allow for gamepad-like controls to Armoury Crate software, which allows you to tamper with performance settings and display frame rate, temperature, and GPU workload numbers while playing your favorite mobile games.

This is one of the most powerful Android phones you can purchase, outperforming even the S24 Ultra in benchmark testing, thanks to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 CPU and a staggering 24GB of RAM. The phone’s excellent cooling system also allows it to retain high performance over lengthy periods of severe workloads, with our benchmark tests revealing steady gaming performance.

The 5500mAh battery is less than last year’s 6000mAh cell, but our tester found that it still allowed the ROG Phone 8 Pro Edition to last well over a day with moderate use.

That is all well and good, but there are other gaming phones with comparable performance-oriented features. Where the ROG Phone 8 Pro Edition stands out is in its design, which does not resemble a gaming phone at all.

Instead, the phone resembles a standard premium smartphone, with a glass and matte frosted finish on the back, slimmer bezels, and even the addition of a new 3x telephoto camera to supplement the rear camera array. If you’re tired of the conventional gamer aesthetic but still want a high-end gaming experience, the ROG Phone 8 Pro Edition is an excellent option.

The only big drawback of this phone is that it is quite costly, costing more than £1000/$1000. As a result, it may be worth renouncing a few features in favor of the older Asus ROG Phone 7 Pro or the standard ROG Phone 8.

ASUS ZENFONE 10

If you’re searching for a handset that’s slightly smaller than the others on this list – one that you could even use with one hand, for example – the fantastic Asus Zenfone 10 is the best option.

The smartphone has a tiny 5.9-inch display, but don’t be fooled; this is a high-end handset. The ZenFone 10 is a capable alternative, thanks to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor that allows it to compete with many more expensive options, as well as the 50MP main shooter with unique six-axis gimbal stabilization that allows for blur-free shots and super-smooth videos.

It also offers some of the best OS customizations we’ve seen, with the ability to switch between Asus’ ZenUI and plain Android 13, as well as a plethora of useful customizations. It’s a shame that it only provides two operating system upgrades in addition to four years of security updates.

Still, if you find that your hands aren’t quite big enough to operate some of the unwieldy phablets discussed above, the device’s 5.9-inch screen may be just ideal for you.

GOOGLE PIXEL 7A

While you might anticipate the Pixel 7a to be our top pick for the best-value Android phone, Google has provided such generous discounts on the Pixel 7 over the last year that it is now worth paying a little more for. Even though the Pixel 6a is still available at a low price, the Pixel 7 is a better value due to its increased durability, wireless charging, and superior photography.

The Pixel 7 may seem similar to its predecessor and sequel, but with a variety of colors to select from, you’ll get something that feels new, even if it’s a generation behind the Pixel 8. The lemongrass color option is quite appealing.

IP68 now provides improved water and dust resistance. And, while the metal camera bar is contentious, it is still a unique design from Google that will look slightly different based on the color option you choose.

The Pixel 7 features the same 50MP main camera as the Pixel 7 Pro, as well as a 12MP ultra-wide. You also get the same 10.8MP punch-hole selfie camera, 4K video recording at 60fps, and 10-bit HDR video capture for improved colors, brightness, and contrast. While the hardware is impressive, the Pixel camera experience is primarily about the processing and software, which are aided by Google’s capable Tensor G2 engine.

The Pixel 7 has a Full HD+ resolution and a 20:9 aspect ratio, and it can reach up to 1000 nits in regular use and 1400 nits at its peak (25% brighter than the Pixel 6’s display) for improved vision in bright environments. We had no issue getting the phone to last all day, and most days concluded with around 15% battery.

MOTOROLA EDGE 40 NEO

If you want an amazing and very cost Android phone, the Motorola Edge 40 Neo is a great contender and one of the best cheap phones available, with an incredible lot of technology for its £299 RRP.

We appreciated the display, which employs the same pOLED technology as the top-tier Razr 40 Ultra. It measures 6.5 inches, boasts a smooth 144Hz refresh rate that is faster than many flagships, and has excellent vibrancy, making this display enthralling whether you’re watching movies or playing games.

Speaking of gaming, the Edge 40 Neo performs admirably for its budget, utilizing the Dimensity 7030, a healthy 12GB of RAM, and 256GB of storage to give decent gameplay. It won’t compete with high-end gaming phones, but it can run most games at medium graphics settings.

Motorola has also focused on camera technology, with a 50MP main camera that performed surprisingly well during testing, thanks to features such as PDAF autofocus, OIS support, and a larger sensor than the previous Edge 30 Neo, which delivered impressive results in both well-lit and low-light scenarios.

It’s also a good-looking smartphone, with a range of Pantone-certified colors, a vegan leather finish, and small dimensions of 7.76mm thick and 172g. Seriously, if you’re on a low budget, you’ll struggle to find a more well-rounded option.