What is the best Android phone right now? That's what we'll try and answer in this guide. Whether you’ve been waiting a while to upgrade your existing Android phone, or you’re an iPhone user and you’ve been tempted by some of the latest Android phone releases like the Pixel 9 Pro XL or Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra.
There are so many devices worth considering for your next Android phone, however, in this article, we’re only concerned with the best of the best Android phones. The devices included here are considered based on their design, the quality of their displays, processing power, battery life, unique features, camera quality, value, and usability.
Why do so many people love Android phones? The main reason is variety, Android phones come in a wide range of sizes and form factors and each offers slightly different takes on what the best camera phone should provide. While some may focus on high camera resolution, others focus on photography features.
Another benefit of the Android platform is that some of them come in at astonishingly competitive prices, which is a direct result of just how many great Android phones are currently available. If you’re looking for a great deal, you should check out our best budget camera phone guide.
Best Android phone in 2025
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Best Android phone overall
The Google Pixel 9 Pro and 9 Pro XL offer identical camera systems and user experiences – differing only in size. The Pixel 9 Pro's 6.3-inch display caters to anyone seeking a more compact flagship experience, while the 6.8-inch Pixel 9 Pro XL suits those preferring larger screens. Both models boast flat displays, offering vibrant colors, deep blacks, and smooth 120Hz refresh rates, with peak brightness levels ensuring excellent visibility outdoors. Both models also support fast 45W wired charging, achieving a full charge in under 90 minutes, and include wireless charging capabilities.
Putting the same cameras on both models is an approach that contrasts with other manufacturers that reserve top-tier cameras for larger models – and will be very welcome to small phone enthusiasts. Both devices feature a triple-camera setup, including a periscope zoom.
The camera system includes a 48MP ultra-wide lens with macro capabilities, a 50MP primary sensor with optical image stabilization, and a 48MP telephoto lens providing approximately 5x optical zoom. The 42MP front camera delivers high-quality selfies.
Notably, the Pixel 9 series excels in night photography, producing well-balanced shots across all cameras. The phone is also enhanced by AI-driven photo processing and editing tools with Google's excellent Magic Eraser in the Photos app.
Read our full Google Pixel 9 Pro and 9 Pro XL review
Best Android phone for resolution
The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra has long been the default Android flagship for so many people, blending premium design with cutting-edge performance. This year is no different with a titanium frame, stunning design, and beautiful flat display making it very oh-so premium.
Powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, the S24 Ultra offers lightning-fast performance, perfect for multitasking and demanding apps. Advanced AI features integrated into the software enhance productivity and user experience, while the device’s battery life is notably strong, thanks to the efficiency of the new chipset.
The camera system delivers consistently high-quality photos and videos, with a huge range of 5 cameras you can capture everything from ultrawide to 10x telephoto shots – although Samsung's image processing might not be to everyone's taste. While the S24 Ultra introduces meaningful improvements, it retains many similarities to its predecessor. Finally, the 200MP camera mode, though impressive, may not provide practical benefits for all users.
This is also one of the priciest options on the list, and a lot of other phones have equally strong cameras for less money, but if you love the design and are integrated into Samsung's ecosystem already then this is the camera phone for you.
Read our full Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra review
Best Android phone on a budget
The Google Pixel 8a is a mid-range smartphone with an affordable price point, but don't let that fool you into thinking this is any less of an incredible camera phone than its Pixel 9 Pro siblings.
Its design features a metal frame and plastic back, which offers durability with IP67 water and dust resistance, but the plastic does feel much less premium than other phones on the list – and phones for the same price.
The 6.1-inch OLED display provides a 120Hz refresh rate, and the phone is powered by Google's Tensor G3 chip and 8GB of RAM, so can handle daily tasks efficiently, though it may lag behind competitors in photo and video editing performance. With a 4,492mAh battery, it can last the full day with moderate use, and there is also up to 30W wired charging for topping up quickly.
The camera system includes a 64MP main sensor and a 13MP ultra-wide lens, delivering impressive photos powered by Google's advanced photo processing. The device supports 4K video recording, with quality contingent on adequate lighting. The Pixel 8a also shared Google's AI-powered editing features with Magic Eraser tools, unblur, and more, as well as AI across the phone including live audio transcription of any video.
Notably, Google promises seven years of software updates, so this phone will keep you going long into the future – which certainly can't be said for all Android phones.
Read our full Google Pixel 8a review
Best value Android flagship
OnePlus 13 has kicked off 2025 on a high with not only the brand's best phone yet, but one of the best phones you can currently buy if you care about your photos.
The camera system, developed in collaboration with Hasselblad, features a 50MP main sensor, a 50MP ultra-wide lens, and a 50MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom. This setup delivers awesome detailed images that rival the best on any other phone. The only downside while the 3x optical zoom is effective, a longer optical zoom would enhance versatility – although the phone does have an impressive AI-assisted digital zoom.
The OnePlus 13 is powered by the latest Snapdragon processor and has really swift performance, and photos and video editing are a breeze. Its 6.82-inch color-accurate display is absolutely stunning, making it ideal for photo and video editing with great clarity, accurate color, and a top peak brightness of 4500nits for editing outside. The build quality is also exceptional, and the phone is available in three colors and finishes – I especially like the Midnight Ocean (blue) faux leather for its premium feel. The OnePlus 13 supports rapid charging up to 80W and has a 6,000mAh which kept me going all day.
Read our full OnePlus 13 review
Best foldable Android phone
The OnePlus Open sets itself apart as the leading camera phone among foldables, thanks to its exceptional photo processing and robust hardware. Equipped with three rear cameras—a 52MP main sensor, a 48MP ultra-wide lens, and a 3x telephoto lens—it excels in capturing detailed and versatile shots. The main camera stands out with its ability to render excellent shadow detail and handle mixed lighting conditions effectively. Its low-light performance is particularly impressive, supported by a reliable auto night mode that delivers sharp, tripod-free shots.
The telephoto lens is notable for producing sharp, product-quality images, even at close range, though it lags behind the wide lens in low-light scenarios. The ultra-wide lens, while less remarkable overall, offers useful macro capabilities for extreme close-ups. Additionally, 10-bit Dolby Vision HDR video support makes it a compelling choice for video creators.
Despite its strengths, the OnePlus Open has some drawbacks. The most notable is color inconsistency across its lenses, and its zoom capabilities are less competitive when compared to non-foldable flagships like the Google Pixel 9 Pro or Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra.
If you're looking for a foldable phone with the best camera experience available, the OnePlus Open is an excellent choice. However, if having the absolute best camera is your top priority, a non-foldable flagship might be a better option.
Read our full OnePlus Open review
Best camera-like experience on a phone
The Xiaomi 14 Ultra is every bit a premium smartphone as it is a camera. The combination of best-in-class hardware, pioneering camera tech, Leica's more classical take on photography tuning, and the best first-party accessory we've ever tested make the Xiaomi 14 Ultra the ultimate phone for photographers right now.
Featuring a 1-inch Sony sensor, variable f/1.63 to f/4.0 aperture, and Leica Summilux lens in its main 23mm camera, as well as three secondary 50MP cameras: a 12mm ultra-wide, a 75mm telephoto, and a 120mm periscope telephoto, all equipped with fast apertures and near-focus capabilities. The device supports 8K video recording.
The most exciting thing about the 14 Ultra though is the Photography Kit accessory that adds physical controls and enhances ergonomics. Photographers extensive out-of-the-box manual controls and having a more liberated zoom range than ever before.
The phone unfortunately lacks eSIM support and its OS and user interface are not the cleanest to use. Also, all those cameras mean the Xiaomi 14 Ultra is also very expensive and is not the easiest phone to buy in some locations.
Read our full Xiaomi 14 Ultra review
Best Android phone for zoom
The Oppo Find X8 Pro stands out as a remarkably versatile camera phone, adept at capturing a range of subjects from sports and wildlife to portraits and close-ups with its two periscope telephoto modules.
While the primary camera sensor could be larger, the phone's exceptional image processing compensates for any size limitations, resulting in high-quality images. The phone's powerful AI helps deliver even better telephoto image quality that belies its light weight. But as with other AI-enhanced camera phones, these 'assisted' images are more about interpreting the scene than providing a literal representation, and while the algorithms can occasionally falter, these trade-offs were usually pretty good in our testing.
The phone is well-built with an impressive is its IP69 ingress protection, making it suitable for underwater photography (but not in the ocean) – although its robustness is questionable as we managed to easily crack its glass back.
Although the Find X8 Pro isn't the cheapest phone, it undercuts similarly equipped rivals like the 512GB Pixel 9 Pro XL, the 512GB Galaxy S24 Ultra, or the 512GB iPhone 16 Pro Max. With its impressive camera specs and performance that can compete with any of these phones, the Find X8 Pro offers great value for its price.
Read our full Oppo Find X8 Pro review
How to choose the best Android phone
The main considerations to look at when buying a new Android phone are the camera, design, and price. Let's start with the camera, or cameras, as most modern smartphones come with two or more cameras offering different perspectives. To pick the right camera for you, you need to ask yourself what you like taking pictures of, if you take a lot of close-up shots, make sure that the Android phone you pick has a good macro mode, if you like wide dramatic landscapes, then opting for a phone with the best wide-angle camera is essential, and for far away shots, a good telephoto lens is a must.
It is easy to get carried away with cameras and specs though, but you'll find most Android phones offer a great experience. Find the design that resonates with you, with the features you really need, and luckily there is an Android phone to suit practically every budget.
Can I transfer my App Store purchases from my iPhone?
Unfortunately, any apps or content purchased directly from the Apple App Store can only be used on Apple devices, you would need to repurchase any apps or content again from the Google Play store. The only exception is any subscriptions to Apps or services you have signed up to, via Apple's store, will be valid on any device where that app or service is offered. Just remember to change your billing information and cancel your subscription with Apple if you intend to completely move away from Apple devices.
What is the best Android camera phone?
Each Android phone manufacturer offers a slightly different take on what makes a good camera phone, so it is worth looking at which features matter the most to you and the type of photos you will take. Some phones offer big sensors for really detailed images that can be printed, while others offer large zoom lenses for capturing far away subjects. Our current favorite Android phone for all-around great photos in almost any situation with its three diverse and high-quality cameras is the Google Pixel 7 Pro.
How we test Android phones
As a photography website, we pay special attention to the photo and video quality of Android phones. Camera phones are all-around digital assistants too, of course, so we will also check general handling, usability, and practicality – such as battery life.
For Android camera phones we rate resolution, noise and color rendition in the context of what rival Android phones can do, and where there are any special features, such as ‘night modes’ or ‘portrait modes’, we check that these perform as the makers describe.
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