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 begin. Not like Apple, which sticks to its modern lineup of iPhones, Android presents a world of selection. Whether or not you are eyeing the most recent flagship from Samsung, a budget-friendly smartphone from Motorola or one thing distinctive with a foldable design, there’s an Android gadget on the market to fit your wants.
The great thing about Android is its flexibility. You’ll discover telephones with completely different display sizes, digital camera setups, battery life and even quirky extras like stylus assist or rugged builds. Plus, Android enables you to customise your gadget to your coronary heart’s content material – one thing Apple followers may envy. We’ve examined and researched the highest Android telephones that will help you discover the proper one in your funds, way of life, 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 broad, 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 fantastic methods. Not solely do each units now assist 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. Then you definitely add in noticeably higher efficiency, greater batteries, brighter shows and correct Qi2 magnetic charging (the primary from a significant Android cellphone maker) by way of Pixelsnap and you’ve got really sensible units that makes choosing anything appear type of dumb.
- Longer battery life
- Brighter shows
- 100x Professional Res Zoom provides main magnification
- Pixelsnap charging (aka Qi2 assist)
- Magic Cue is tremendous useful (when it really works)
- No extra wi-fi powersharing
- Processing full-res photos 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 broad, 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 accessible on its dearer siblings. The truth is, it truly has slower charging and it is lacking assist 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 strong design, a pleasant display, wonderful cameras and powerful battery life, the Pixel 9a is de facto onerous to beat. So whereas it isn’t tremendous fancy, the cellphone has all of its most necessary bases coated (after which some). However most significantly, beginning at simply $499, this cellphone appears like an unbelievable deal that punches properly above its worth.
- Modern design
- Superior battery life
- Good show
- Nice cameras
- IP68 score for mud and water resistance
- Charging might be quicker
- No Pixel Screenshot app
- Macro Focus mode is usually a bit finicky
Picture 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 stunning 6.9-inch AMOLED show (which is 0.1 inches greater than final 12 months) and naturally, Samsung’s signature S Pen. That mentioned, for 2025, Samsung’s principal focus was on its improved Galaxy AI options similar to Now Temporary, which creates a customized feed of reports, occasions and extra. There’s additionally Drawing Help that makes it simpler to create AI-generated artwork, or you’ll be able to 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 latest {hardware} in comparison with its predecessor (or the S23U for that matter). So whereas Samsung’s newest flagship is a superb cellphone, it doesn’t really feel like an important improve for individuals with flagship units which can be solely a 12 months or two previous.
- Wonderful display
- 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 principal and telephoto cameras as final 12 months
- Not totally 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 broad, 12MP ultrawide, 10MP telephoto), 10MP entrance digital camera | Battery: 4,400mAh
One of many greatest points with foldable telephones is the added measurement and weight that always 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 in and out — 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 principal digital camera, matching or exceeding what you get from conventional flagship smartphones. The principle downsides are that at $2,000, it is nonetheless removed from reasonably priced and for long-time Samsung followers, the lack of S Pen assist could also be a dealbreaker. However for many 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 principal digital camera
- Bigger shows
- Prime-tier efficiency
- Very costly
- No S Pen assist
- 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 broad, 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 wonderful 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 greater 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, in the event you 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
- Engaging design
- Picture high quality might be a contact higher
- Solely six years of software program assist as an alternative of seven
- Wants a case to completely assist 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 choose it as our favourite foldable of this era, the Pixel 10 Pro Fold isn’t that far behind. Positive, it’s greater and bulkier, however 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 forestall plenty of complications in the event you frequent the seaside or just about wherever with little particles that would threaten the insides of your gadget.
What to search for in a brand new Android cellphone
Efficiency
In relation to choosing our favourite Android telephones, the principle issues we search for are fairly simple: good efficiency (each compute and AI), a pleasant show, strong design, sharp cameras, lengthy battery life and a big dedication to ongoing software program assist. 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 social media or enjoying a sport, nobody needs a gadget that feels sluggish.
Show
In relation to shows, we typically choose OLED panels that may produce wealthy, saturated colours with not less than 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 lately, most of our favourite units additionally assist screens with quick refresh charges of 90Hz or 120Hz, which provides an additional degree of smoothness and fluidity.
Design
Now we are going to admit there’s a little bit of subjectivity when deciding which telephones look the most effective, however there are different design facets like mud and water resistance or display sturdiness that may make a giant distinction to long-term survival. It’s additionally necessary to contemplate issues like assist for wi-fi charging, energy sharing (aka reverse wi-fi charging) and UWB connectivity, which may have an effect on how your cellphone interacts together with your different units.
Cameras
Clearly, for images we’re on the lookout for sharp, colourful pictures in each vibrant and low-light situations. And we would like video clips with excessive dynamic vary, wealthy audio and easy picture stabilization. Additional cameras for ultra-wide and telephoto lenses are a plus. The very best cameras also needs to embody options like devoted evening modes, assist for numerous video recording resolutions, and extra picture modes like timelapse, sluggish movement and extra.
Battery and software program
Lastly, by way of longevity, we’re on the lookout for all-day battery life on units that additionally delivered nice outcomes on our native video rundown check (not less than 16 hours on a cost, however extra is clearly higher). Wi-fi charging capabilities have turn out to be virtually ubiquitous over the previous few years, and most of our high picks have this additional perk. Quick-charging is out there on some Android telephones, too. Lastly, with individuals holding onto their telephones longer than ever, we wish to see corporations decide to not less than three years of software program assist, upgrades and common safety updates.
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