Today’s leader telephone manufacturers are innovating and evolving faster than ever, with features like foldable screens, 5G connectivity and super AMOLED screens. Samsung’s Galaxy line dominates the Android category and it probably won’t stop anytime soon. But other companies seek the honor of being the best Android phone – and you, the potential customer, benefit from all of this competition.
There are now a number of great Android phones available at a variety of prices, ranging from high-end phones to budget devices. We took a look at the best Android options and put together our favorites, which we keep up to date. These phones have long battery life, screens, cameras or all of the above. We also take into account features like fingerprint sensor, wireless charging and expandable storage. Continue reading to see our top options for the best Android phone options and check out our tips on how to buy a new phone, too.
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What to look for when buying a phone
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As Samsung’s flagship phone for 2020, the Galaxy S20 features a bright 6.2-inch AMOLED screen with an ultra-smooth 120 Hz refresh rate, reverse wireless charging, water-resistant design and three rear cameras (in addition to excellent front camera). This is a fantastic daily driver for an Android user and if you have more to spend, there is also the Galaxy S20 Plus and Ultra. Read our review of the Samsung Galaxy S20 5G.
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Pixel smartphones have a loyal following and for good reason. Regardless of its price, Google’s Pixel 4A has world-class camera performance that takes brilliant photos. But this Android device is an even better deal, as the cheap smartphone costs $ 349 (£ 349, AU $ 599). The 5.81-inch device also features a headset, 128 GB of storage outside the box and better battery life than last year’s Pixel 4. Read our review of Google Pixel 4A.
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The Note 20 Ultra, along with its smaller counterpart, the Note 20, is an expensive ultra-premium Android phone with an expansive screen, a built-in S Pen and 5G. The Note 20 Ultra also features a triple rear camera array, the high-powered Snapdragon 865 Plus processor and reverse wireless charging. It comes with 128 GB or 512 GB of internal storage. Read our review of the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra.
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Although OnePlus is not as well known as Apple or Samsung, the OnePlus 8 and 8 Pro smartphone offers a premium experience at a relatively more affordable phone price than its rivals. As the most advanced Android smartphone, the OnePlus 8 Pro has a 120 Hz display and a telephoto camera. But the OnePlus 8 is more affordable and still has 5G, a fast 90 Hz screen and the same top-of-the-line processor. Read our review of OnePlus 8.
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The Motorola Edge Plus has just about everything you expect from a premium 5G phone: a Snapdragon 865 chipset, a giant battery, an OLED screen with a high refresh rate, and several rear cameras with robust specifications. Motorola took features found on other top-of-the-line Android phones, put its own Moto touch on them and integrated them into one of our favorite Android phones of the year. Read our review of the Motorola Edge Plus.
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In addition to its main Galaxy S phones, Samsung has a more economical A-series phone line. This year, it launched the Galaxy A51 for $ 399 (£ 329, AU $ 599) – although there is also a 5G variant that costs $ 499. This Android phone has four cameras, an on-screen fingerprint reader and expandable storage . Read our review of the Galaxy A51.