The Best Android Phones For 2023
Unlike the iOS ecosystem, where Apple's iPhone is the only game, one of the best things about the Android phone market is the wide variety of devices and manufacturers. However, when it comes time to upgrade, the sheer number of options can make choosing the right phone a little more difficult. If you're looking for a new phone and don't know where to start, we've rounded up the best Android phones for every budget.
What to look for in a new Android phone
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When choosing our favorite Android phone, the main things we look for are pretty simple: good performance (computing and artificial intelligence), good screen, solid design, sharp camera, long battery life and a strong commitment to ongoing software support. . . When it comes to performance, we don't just look at benchmarks and other metrics, we also rate phones based on their responsiveness. Whether you're reading, texting, browsing social media or gaming, no one wants a slow device.
Screen
When it comes to screens, we generally prefer OLED panels that can produce rich, saturated colors with a brightness of at least 600 nits, although many mid-range and high-end phones can reach 1000 nits or more. And recently, most of our favorite devices also support screens with a high refresh rate of 90Hz or 120Hz, which adds an extra level of smoothness and sophistication.
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Now, we'll admit that there's a bit of subjectivity when deciding which phone looks the best, but there are other design aspects, like dust and water resistance or screen durability, that can make a big difference in viability over time. . It's also important to consider things like wireless charging support, power distribution (aka reverse wireless charging), and UWB connectivity, which can affect how your phone interacts with other devices.
Camera
Of course, for photos, we're looking for sharp, colorful shots in both bright and low light conditions. And we need video clips with a wide dynamic range, rich sound and smooth image stabilization. The additional cameras for ultra-wide-angle and telephoto lenses are a plus. It's also important to consider features like a special night mode, support for multiple resolutions for video recording, and additional photography modes like time-lapse, slow motion, and more.
Battery and software
Finally, in terms of battery life, we looked at the longevity of the device, which also produced excellent results in our local video recording test (at least 16 hours on a charge, but the more, the better). Wireless charging capabilities have become almost ubiquitous in recent years, and most of our top picks have that added benefit. Finally, as more people keep their phones longer than ever, we'd like to see companies commit to providing software support, updates and regular security updates for at least three years.
The best Android phones to buy right now
Best overall Android phone: Google Pixel 7 Pro
Photo by Sam Rutherford/Engadget
The Pixel 7 may not be the fastest phone on the market, but what it lacks in raw performance, it makes up for in sleek software.
The Pixel 7 Pro and standard Pixel 7 may not be the fastest phones on the market, but what they lack in raw performance, they make up for in slick software. Powered by Google's Tensor G2 chip, the Pixel 7 series offers powerful AI and machine learning capabilities to support features such as on-device language recognition and real-time translation. You also get a gorgeous OLED display and the best overall camera quality of any current smartphone. And with prices starting at just $600 for the standard Pixel 7, Google's latest flagship is also good value for money. The main difference between the two is that the Pixel 7 Pro has a larger 6.7-inch display and is equipped with a third rear camera with 5x optical zoom. But whether you prefer a smaller or larger device, you can't go wrong with the Pixel 7 or Pixel 7 Pro.
Processor : Google Tensor G2
Screen : 6.7 inches QHD+, up to 120 Hz
Camera : rear (50 MP wide angle, 12 MP ultra wide angle, 48 MP tele), 10.8 MP front camera
Battery : 5000 mAh
Read our full Google Pixel 7 Pro review
Best mid-range Android phone: OnePlus 11
Photo by Matt Smith/Engadget
For those who want a phone with a big screen, a great camera and great performance, but at a lower price than traditional flagship phones, the OnePlus 11 strikes a good balance between a budget phone and a more premium device . In many ways, the OnePlus 11 is similar to the more affordable Galaxy S23+. Not only do you get the same 6.7-inch 120Hz display, but it also packs a speedy Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip and a big 5,000mAh battery. Meanwhile, thanks to OnePlus' impressive 100W wired charging, it charges faster than any phone from Google or Samsung. And when it comes to cameras, the company's continued collaboration with Hasselblad has resulted in significant improvements in image quality.
The OP11's main downsides are that its IP64 water and dust resistance rating is lower than competing devices, and the 2x optical zoom camera lens seems a bit short. But thanks to OnePlus adding broader carrier support and four years of OS updates and five years of security fixes, the OP11 is an all-in-one option that costs significantly less than its rivals.
Processor : Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2
Screen : 6.7 inches QHD+, up to 120 Hz
Camera : rear (50 MP main sensor, 48 MP ultra-wide angle camera, 32 MP telephoto lens), 16 MP front camera
Battery : 5000 mAh
Read our full OnePlus11 review
Best Cheap Android Phone: Google Pixel 7a
Photo by Sam Rutherford/Engadget
If you just want a basic phone at a good price, the Google Pixel 7a can't be beat.
The $500 Pixel 7a offers everything we're looking for in a great, affordable Android phone (if you've got a little more money to spare, check out our guide to the best budget phones ). New features include a faster Tensor G2 chip, a smoother 90Hz display, and, for the first time on a Google A-series phone, support for wireless charging. And with a new IP67 waterproof design, it looks and feels like the standard Pixel 7, but for $100 less. You also get excellent support with five years of security updates and at least three years of software updates. The Pixel 7a's only downsides are pretty minor, including the lack of a dedicated zoom lens and a lack of mmWave 5G support (unless you buy the slightly more expensive $550 Verizon model).
Processor : Google Tensor G2
Screen : 6.1 inches FHD+, up to 90 Hz
Camera : Rear (64MP wide angle, 13MP ultrawide), 13MP front camera
Battery : 4,385 mAh
Read our full Google Pixel 7a review
Best premium Android phone: Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
Photo by Sam Rutherford/Engadget
With a starting price of $1,200, the Galaxy S23 Ultra is very expensive, but it has great performance, a great camera system, and pretty much everything you want or need in a smartphone. Specifications include a large 6.8-inch OLED display with a 120Hz adjustable refresh rate, a total of five cameras (main, ultra-wide, 3x zoom, 10x zoom and selfie camera), and a stylus S integrated for drawing and sketching. take notice. It also has a large 5000 mAh battery that offers the longest battery life of any phone. And with Samsung's new commitment to software support, you can expect at least four major operating system updates and regular security patches over five years.
Processor : Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2
Screen : QHD+ 6.8 inches, up to 120 Hz
Camera : Rear (200 MP wide angle, 12 MP ultra wide angle, 10 MP telephoto), 12 MP front camera
Battery : 5000 mAh
Read our full review of the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
Best foldable Android phone: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5
Photo by Sam Rutherford/Engadget
Despite increased competition from the Pixel Fold, for people looking to maximize their mobile productivity, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 is still the best large foldable device on the market.
Despite greater competition from the Pixel Fold, for people looking to maximize their mobile productivity, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 is still the best large foldable phone on the market. In the latest model, Samsung not only added two new gestures to start parallel multitasking or switch between full-screen and windowed applications, but also increased the number of recent applications that can be seen in the taskbar by two. the second. four o'clock. The Z Fold 5's Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset also offers better performance than the Pixel Fold, and while this Samsung phone has a smaller battery (4400 mAh vs 4800 mAh), it also has better battery life. But the biggest change this generation is Samsung's new flexible hinge, which allows the phone to fold and make it slimmer. Unfortunately, the camera system is largely unchanged from last year, and with a starting price of $1,800, the Z Fold 5 isn't affordable.
Processor : Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2
Screen : Front screen 6.2 inches HD+ (up to 120 Hz), main screen QXGA+ 7.6 inches (up to 120 Hz)
Camera : Rear (50 MP wide angle, 12 MP ultra wide angle, 10 MP telephoto), 10 MP front camera (cover) + 4 MP UDC (main)
Battery : 4400 mAh
Read our full review of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5
