Selecting the most effective Android cellphone can really feel overwhelming as there are such a lot of choices from so many manufacturers, it’s onerous to know the place to start out. In contrast to Apple, which sticks to its modern lineup of iPhones, Android presents a world of selection. Whether or not you are eyeing the newest flagship from Samsung, a budget-friendly smartphone from Motorola or one thing distinctive with a foldable design, there’s an Android system on the market to fit your wants.
The fantastic thing about Android is its flexibility. You’ll discover telephones with totally different display screen sizes, digital camera setups, battery life and even quirky extras like stylus help or rugged builds. Plus, Android permits you to customise your system to your coronary heart’s content material – one thing Apple followers may envy. We’ve examined and researched the highest Android telephones that can assist you discover the precise one on your price range, life-style, and tech preferences.
Finest Android telephones for 2025
Learn our full Google Pixel 10 Pro and 10 Pro XL review
Processor: Google Tensor G5 | Show: 6.3-inch Tremendous Actua, as much as 120Hz | Cameras: Rear array (50MP vast, 48MP ultrawide with Macro Focus, 48MP 5x telephoto lens), 42MP twin PD selfie entrance digital camera with autofocus | Battery: 4,870mAh
With the Pixel 10 and Pixel 10 Pro, Google has as soon as once more refined its smartphone {hardware} whereas pushing its AI-powered software program in new and great methods. Not solely do each gadgets now help full high-res portrait pictures, its 100x Professional Res Zoom captures long-range images in ways in which lenses and megapixels alone merely can’t. You then add in noticeably higher efficiency, larger batteries, brighter shows and correct Qi2 magnetic charging (the primary from a significant Android cellphone maker) through Pixelsnap and you’ve got really sensible gadgets that makes selecting anything appear type of dumb.
- Longer battery life
- Brighter shows
- 100x Professional Res Zoom provides main magnification
- Pixelsnap charging (aka Qi2 help)
- Magic Cue is tremendous useful (when it really works)
- No extra wi-fi powersharing
- Processing full-res pictures is a bit sluggish
- Pixel 10 line is eSIM solely within the US
Sam Rutherford for Engadget
Learn our full Google Pixel 9a review
Processor: Google Tensor G4 | Show: 6.3-inch 1,080 x 2,424 pOLED, as much as 120Hz | Cameras: Rear array (48MP vast, 13MP ultrawide), 13MP entrance digital camera | Battery: 5,100mAh
The Pixel 9a is not particularly flashy and it would not have any particular options that are not already out there on its dearer siblings. In truth, it really has slower charging and it is lacking help for a few of Google’s homegrown software program just like the Screenshots app. However for everybody who simply needs a easy cellphone with a stable design, a pleasant display screen, glorious cameras and robust battery life, the Pixel 9a is absolutely onerous to beat. So whereas it is not tremendous fancy, the cellphone has all of its most vital bases lined (after which some). However most significantly, beginning at simply $499, this cellphone seems like an unbelievable deal that punches nicely above its worth.
- Modern design
- Superior battery life
- Good show
- Nice cameras
- IP68 score for mud and water resistance
- Charging could possibly be quicker
- No Pixel Screenshot app
- Macro Focus mode is usually a bit finicky
Photograph by Sam Rutherford / Engadget
Learn our full Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra review
Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite | Show: 6.9-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2x QHD+, as much as 120Hz | Cameras: Rear array (200MP, Twin Pixel AF, Digital Zoom 100x, 50MP Macro, 50MP UW), 12MP entrance digital camera | Battery: 5,000mAh
The S25 Ultra is a do-anything cellphone. It has a variety of cameras together with a 5x telephoto lens and a brand new 50-megapixel sensor for its ultra-wide shooter, a beautiful 6.9-inch AMOLED show (which is 0.1 inches larger than final yr) and naturally, Samsung’s signature S Pen. That mentioned, for 2025, Samsung’s major focus was on its improved Galaxy AI options similar to Now Temporary, which creates a personalised feed of stories, occasions and extra. There’s additionally Drawing Help that makes it simpler to create AI-generated artwork, or you may flip to AI Choose for assist with taking screenshots, turning movies into GIFs or summarizing tales.
Sadly, other than a brand new Snapdragon 8 Elite chip, the S25 Extremely doesn’t include a ton of recent {hardware} in comparison with its predecessor (or the S23U for that matter). So whereas Samsung’s newest flagship is a good cellphone, it doesn’t really feel like a necessary improve for folks with flagship gadgets which are solely a yr or two previous.
- Wonderful display screen
- Nice efficiency and battery life
- Anti-reflective Gorilla Armor 2 panels
- Slimmer bezels
- New 50MP ultra-wide sensor
- S Pen not suppers Air actions
- Similar major and telephoto cameras as final yr
- Not absolutely appropriate with magnetic Qi2 equipment
- Costly
Sam Rutherford for Engadget
Learn our full Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 review
Processor: Snapdragon 8 Elite | Show: 8-inch 2184 x 1968QXGA+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X full show, 6.5-inch 2520 x 1080FHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X cowl show | Cameras: Rear array (200MP vast, 12MP ultrawide, 10MP telephoto), 10MP entrance digital camera | Battery: 4,400mAh
One of many greatest points with foldable telephones is the added dimension and weight that usually comes with the inclusion of a versatile show. Samsung has made {that a} factor of the previous on the Galaxy Z Fold 7, which sports activities bigger screens — each inside and outside — whereas being 26 p.c thinner than earlier than. And as if that wasn’t sufficient, the Z Fold 7 additionally options improved sturdiness, elevated efficiency and a brand new 200MP major digital camera, matching or exceeding what you get from conventional flagship smartphones. The primary downsides are that at $2,000, it is nonetheless removed from reasonably priced and for long-time Samsung followers, the lack of S Pen help could also be a dealbreaker. However for individuals who wish to expertise new heights in foldable cellphone design, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 is a masterpiece of contemporary gadget design.
- Exquisitely skinny design
- Sleeker hinge
- Huge 200MP major digital camera
- Bigger shows
- High-tier efficiency
- Very costly
- No S Pen help
- Mediocre charging speeds
Sam Rutherford for Engadget
Learn our full OnePlus 13 review
Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite | Show: 6.8-inch OLED, 120Hz, 4,500 nits max brightness | Cameras: Rear array (50MP vast, 50MP ultrawide, 50MP telephoto), 32MP entrance digital camera | Battery: 6,000mAh
Whereas the OnePlus 13 options some fundamental AI options like Google’s Circle to Search and Gemini assistant, it’s actually simply an old school flagship in all the most effective methods. That’s as a result of as an alternative of specializing in machine studying, OnePlus crammed the cellphone with tons of top-notch {hardware}. It sports activities a 6.8-inch OLED show with an unbelievable peak brightness of as much as 4,500 nits. The OP13 additionally presents glorious efficiency due to Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite chip, together with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. There are additionally three 50-MP rear cameras together with one with a 3x telephoto zoom and a large 6,000 mAh battery that’s larger than what you get in virtually all of its rivals.
OnePlus didn’t skimp on the cellphone’s design both, because the OP13 nonetheless comes with the corporate’s signature Alert Slider. Plus, if you happen to go for the blue or white variants, you’ll get a sturdy and really touchable vegan leather-based again that helps the cellphone stand out amongst all its glass brick rivals. However the most effective half is that beginning at $900, it prices lower than an equal Galaxy S25+ too.
- Class-leading battery life
- Tremendous-bright show
- Nice efficiency
- Enticing design
- Photograph high quality could possibly be a contact higher
- Solely six years of software program help as an alternative of seven
- Wants a case to totally help magnetic Qi2 equipment
Different Android telephones we examined
Google Pixel 10 Professional Fold
Whereas the design and efficiency of the Galaxy Z Fold 7 is so good that we needed to decide it as our favourite foldable of this era, the Pixel 10 Pro Fold isn’t that far behind. Positive, it’s larger and bulkier, nevertheless it nonetheless has the most effective cameras on any foldable cellphone together with higher software program and a bigger battery. However maybe most significantly, it now has a correct IP68 score for mud and water resistance — one thing you received’t discover on any of its rivals. This might save the cellphone from an early demise and stop plenty of complications if you happen to frequent the seashore or just about anyplace with little particles that might threaten the insides of your system.
What to search for in a brand new Android cellphone
Efficiency
In terms of selecting our favourite Android telephones, the primary issues we search for are fairly easy: good efficiency (each compute and AI), a pleasant show, stable design, sharp cameras, lengthy battery life and a big dedication to ongoing software program help. For efficiency, not solely will we have a look at benchmarks and different metrics, however we additionally consider telephones based mostly on responsiveness. No matter whether or not you’re studying, textual content messaging, scrolling by way of social media or taking part in a recreation, nobody needs a gadget that feels sluggish.
Show
In terms of shows, we typically choose OLED panels that may produce wealthy, saturated colours with a minimum of 600 nits of brightness, although a lot of our high mid-range and high-end telephones can hit 1,000 nits or extra. And extra not too long ago, most of our favourite gadgets additionally help screens with quick refresh charges of 90Hz or 120Hz, which provides an additional degree of smoothness and fluidity.
Design
Now we’ll admit there’s a little bit of subjectivity when deciding which telephones look the most effective, however there are different design points like mud and water resistance or display screen sturdiness that may make an enormous distinction to long-term survival. It’s additionally vital to contemplate issues like help for wi-fi charging, energy sharing (aka reverse wi-fi charging) and UWB connectivity, which might have an effect on how your cellphone interacts along with your different gadgets.
Cameras
Clearly, for images we’re in search of sharp, colourful pictures in each vibrant and low-light situations. And we would like video clips with excessive dynamic vary, wealthy audio and clean picture stabilization. Further cameras for ultra-wide and telephoto lenses are a plus. One of the best cameras must also embrace options like devoted night time modes, help for numerous video recording resolutions, and extra photograph modes like timelapse, sluggish movement and extra.
Battery and software program
Lastly, by way of longevity, we’re in search of all-day battery life on gadgets that additionally delivered nice outcomes on our native video rundown take a look at (a minimum of 16 hours on a cost, however extra is clearly higher). Wi-fi charging capabilities have change into virtually ubiquitous over the previous few years, and most of our high picks have this further perk. Quick-charging is on the market on some Android telephones, too. Lastly, with folks holding onto their telephones longer than ever, we wish to see corporations decide to a minimum of three years of software program help, upgrades and common safety updates.
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