Karlston Posted August 5, 2020 Share Posted August 5, 2020 The Best Android Phones Shopping for a new phone can be an ordeal. Let us take some of the pain out of it with these picks and tips. Finding the best Android phone for your needs is hard work. It's easy to get swayed by a pretty handset design or a convincing price. Carriers might tempt you with an affordable 24-month payment plan. But before you make a rash impulse buy, read up. From the bottomless pit of phone choices, we bring you our favorites—including our top pick, the Pixel 4A. All the phones we've selected here have their own advantages, and we've laid them out as honestly as we can. Be sure to check our Best iPhones and Best Cheap Phones guides for more recommendations. You can find all of our latest buying guides here. Updated August 2020: We've added a number of new phones like the Pixel 4A and the Sony Xperia 1 II, and removed older models. If you buy something using links in our stories, we may earn a commission. Learn more. Photograph: Samsung First, Some Advice Buy Your Phone Unlocked (and Ignore 5G!) We recommend unlocked phones in this guide. When a phone is sold as "unlocked," it means the phone can be used on multiple wireless carriers/networks. When you buy a phone directly from your wireless carrier, usually on a payment plan, it often comes locked to that network. Carriers are legally required to unlock a phone upon request so you can switch networks, but it's a big hassle. Try to pay full price for your phone, or make sure it specifically says it's unlocked. If you feel it's too expensive to buy outright, that's a good sign you should find a cheaper model, buy it from the manufacturer directly, or investigate your carrier's policies for unlocking phones if they're bought on a payment plan. Verizon tips: Buying an unlocked phone is smart (it is!), but even if you do the smart thing, networks like Verizon will put up hoops for you to jump through. If you insert your SIM card but still have trouble receiving text messages or something else, contact customer service and have them enable "CDMA-Less roaming." This OnePlus 6T guide may help. The steps should be similar for other phones. Why we don't care about 5G: You'll see lots of ads encouraging you to upgrade to a 5G plan and buy a 5G phone. Yes, you do need a new phone that supports 5G to make use of a 5G network (we have a guide that explains it all), but at the moment 5G is still sparse, available only in certain areas of a handful of cities in the US, and it's often not even all that fast. Our advice? Think about 5G for the phone you buy next time, in two years (or more). For now, you don't need it. Photograph: Google Best Overall (We Love This Phone) Google Pixel 4A The Pixel 4A (9/10, WIRED Recommends) is many things: It's the best cheap phone, the best small phone, the best camera phone, and the best Android phone, period. What does all of that cost you? Only $350. Yep. The successor to our previous favorite Android phone is now $50 cheaper and better in every way. It has the same great main camera from the flagship Pixel 4, so you can snap excellent photos even at night with Google's Night Sight mode. It runs very smoothly, the battery lasts a full day, and the 5.8-inch OLED screen looks fantastic—especially since Google shaved off the bezels around it. It feels ultra-compact in the hand. The polycarbonate body feels a little cheaper than glass, but it's much more durable. Plus, there's a headphone jack! The Pixel 4A also gets monthly security updates and Android version upgrades directly from Google for three years (most phones don't). The only downsides: It's not water-resistant, it has no wireless charging, and it has no MicroSD card slot, so you'll have to make do with the rather generous 128 gigabytes of internal storage. Works on all three major US networks $350 at Amazon $350 at Best Buy Photograph: OnePlus Best Luxury Phone OnePlus 8 Pro OnePlus' newest flagship phone goes against the company's original ethos of selling high-end phones at an affordable price point. The 8 Pro (8/10, WIRED Recommends) is a flagship phone with a flagship price tag, but it's excellent and still undercuts Samsung's Galaxy S20 by $100. It has a brilliantly sharp and colorful display with a 120-Hz refresh rate, making it one of the smoothest screens to stare at for hours on end. You also finally get proper water-resistance and wireless charging (it recharges superfast if you use OnePlus' wireless charger). And OnePlus is quicker than most at software updates, not to mention that its user interface has limitless customization options. The triple-camera system (normal, wide-angle, zoom) can snap some great photos, though it still sits a rung below the Google Pixel 4 or 4A, especially in low light and with portrait mode. Battery life will get you through a day (make sure to leave your screen resolution at 2,376 x 1,080 pixels to conserve power), but it doesn't last quite as long as the S20. And the screen can be a bit finicky, because it curves into the edges, making it difficult for it to register your taps when holding the phone one-handed. Still, this is one of the best Android experiences you can get, if you don't mind the price. A case comes included in the box. Works on all three major US networks $899 at Amazon $899 at OnePlus Photograph: Google Best Camera Google Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL Google's Pixel series are regarded as the best camera phones on the market (though the iPhone 11 Pro has a night mode that's very impressive). The Pixel 4 (8/10, WIRED Recommends) is Google's most recent flagship, and its dual-camera system is excellent. Portrait Mode lets you effectively blur out the background of a subject, the 2X zoom telephoto lens is handy for close-ups, and Night Sight mode lights up the darkest scenes—you can even use it to capture starry skies. It packs great performance with a smooth 90-Hz screen similar to other high-end models, and like Apple's Face ID, you can also use Face Unlock as authentication. (Google finally issued an update so it doesn't unlock when your eyes are closed.) That's without mentioning all the software smarts that put it a rung above the rest. For example, Call Screen will monitor robocalls for you so you don't have to answer them, and Now Playing uses on-device machine learning to show you songs playing in your surroundings, so you don't need to try and look them up. The biggest downside is battery life, which barely lasts a full day if you're a heavy user. If you're going to buy one, opt for the bigger Pixel 4 XL, since it has a beefier battery. The camera experience on the Pixel 4A is very similar to the Pixel 4, but if you want extras like wireless charging, a nicer 90-Hz fluid screen, better performance, and a telephoto camera, then go for the flagship. You should know that Google will have a Pixel 5 and Pixel 4A 5G later this fall, so it might be worthwhile to wait. Works on all three major US networks $900 $830 at Amazon $900 at B&H Photo Video Photograph: Motorola Best for $200 or Less Motorola Moto G Fast We normally don't recommend phones this cheap, but the new Moto G Fast is a good bargain if your budget is tight. You get the same processor as in the Moto G Stylus (the Snapdragon 665), though a little less RAM, so multitasking won't be as smooth. It still delivers enough power to run all my usual apps and games without an unreasonable amount of stuttering or lag. You also get a headphone jack, more than a full day of battery life, a plastic body for durability, plus a fingerprint reader and expandable storage. The low price does come with many compromises, though. The cameras are only decent in the sunniest of conditions. Any less light and you'll get a blurry image. The Moto G Fast will also only get one Android version upgrade and minimal security updates, so you are not likely to get software updates after 2020. There's also no NFC, meaning you can't make contactless payments with Google Pay. If these compromises aren't deal breakers for you, and you just need a cheap phone to run a few apps, this will do the trick. Works on all three major US networks $200 at Amazon $200 at Best Buy Photograph: Motorola Multiday Battery Life for Cheap Motorola Moto G Power If you want a reliable phone that you don't need to plug in every day, get the Moto G Power. Its 5,000-mAh battery is bigger than the one in its pricier sibling, the Moto G Stylus, and it lasts three full days before you'll need to juice it back up. It has the same Snapdragon 665 processor for satisfactory performance and shares other basics like a headphone jack and MicroSD card slot. You get 64 gigabytes of built-in storage. The cameras aren't the same, and this is where the G Power falters (and matches the G Fast a little more). It can snap some good photos during the day, but unlike the Stylus it doesn't have a Night mode, which uses a long exposure technique for better low-light images. Its absence means the photos it takes at night look pretty poor, just like on the Moto G Fast. This Moto phone will also only get one Android version upgrade, which is a stark contrast to some similarly priced budget phones from Nokia. Works on all three major US networks $250 at Amazon $250 at Best Buy Photograph: Nokia Pure Android for Cheap Nokia 7.2 This Nokia phone can't match the Pixel 4A, but it's not bad. As mentioned above, Motorola offers very limited software support—usually, you get one Android version upgrade, and then your phone is left to languish. HMD, the maker of Nokia phones, is different. Most of its phones are part of the Android One program, meaning the company makes a commitment not only to have no bloatware on the phone but also to deliver two years of Android version and security updates. The Nokia 7.2 is no exception; it already has been updated to Android 10. You also get a great 6.3-inch LCD screen (with HDR support, rare in a phone of this price), 128 gigabytes of storage, a decent midrange processor, day-long battery life, and it has the benefit of not looking like a budget phone. The triple-camera experience is solid, too, though it can't match the Pixel 4A's image quality. The downsides are that the back is made of glass, so a case is a good idea, and it's only slightly water-resistant, so be careful around the toilet! Works on AT&T and T-Mobile $349 at Amazon $350 at Best Buy Photograph: Samsung Best Samsung Phone Samsung Galaxy S20 Samsung Galaxy phones are so popular they have a category in this guide, but they aren't our top picks. If money is no object, the Galaxy S20 (9/10, WIRED Recommends) has everything you want in a phone and then some. There's wireless charging, a MicroSD card slot, water resistance, long battery life, booming speakers, a nice screen size that fits your palm, and beautifully made hardware. Not to mention it's powerful with the Snapdragon 865 inside, and the triple-camera setup is fantastic too, allowing you to snap great photos at a variety of zoom levels. Other perks include a bright 120-Hz OLED screen that's bested only by the OnePlus 8 Pro. Samsung does go overboard offering 8K video recording and 5G, which can't really be utilized to their fullest potential at the moment, so don't let those additional features influence your buying decision. Sadly, there's no headphone jack, but you do get decent USB-C earbuds in the box. Why We Chose the Standard S20: There are three flagship Samsung phones this year: the Galaxy S20, S20 Plus, and S20 Ultra. The Plus is $200 pricier but isn't worth the extra cash, and the $1,400 Galaxy S20 Ultra (8/10, WIRED Recommends) is an excellent phone with even better cameras and a much bigger screen—if you want to pay a huge premium for it. Works on all three major US networks $999 $990 at Amazon $1,000 at Samsung Photograph: Sony Another Great Phone Sony Xperia 1 II Sony's first great phone in years is the Xperia 1 II (8/10, WIRED Recommends). It's pronounced Xperia "One Mark Two"—yes, the name's silly, but it does almost everything really well. The narrow body and the flat edges make it super comfortable to hold despite the large 6.5-inch screen. And you're getting 4K resolution and a 21:9 aspect ratio, which means movies look a fair bit more cinematic. Sony is also using a stripped-down version of Android, so what you get is a fairly simple, stock experience. Plus, the headphone jack is back, it's water-resistant, and there's a MicroSD card slot in case you need more than the 256 gigabytes of storage. But the surprise hit is the triple-camera array. These cameras can take some really strong photos, even at night (though you really need to stand still). It's not as consistently reliable as the Google Pixel 4 camera, especially with high-contrast scenes, but it's still a great camera system nonetheless. That's without mentioning the two special apps Sony offers that give you more granular control over the camera, putting you firmly in control over the look of your content for both photos and videos. The extra camera controls can get complicated, but if you love tweaking with a camera's manual mode, you'll have fun here. The Xperia's cons? The screen is dim outdoors, and it's very, very expensive. Works on all three major US networks $1,200 at Amazon $1,198 at B&H Photo and Video Photograph: LG Best for Audiophiles LG V60 ThinQ This is one of the few high-end phones with a headphone jack, and it's paired with a digital-to-analog converter, so music going to your corded headphones sounds fantastic. Bluetooth audio also sounds nice with the Apt:X codec support. LG's V60 ThinQ isn't the flashiest phone, but it gets the job done. It has the same Snapdragon 865 processor as some of our high-end picks, so you get great performance, the 5,000-mAh battery can hit two days on a single charge, and there's a huge 6.8-inch screen, which is actually a little too big, but the OLED's quality is excellent and bright. The improved dual-camera system (main, wide-angle) can snap some reliably good photos, though it still can't quite match the likes of the Pixel 4 or the Galaxy S20. The software experience has some quirks, and LG also doesn't have a great track record at consistently delivering updates. There's 5G support, but you can only buy this phone from a carrier—no unlocked version is available. With your purchase, you'll get LG's dual-screen case accessory, which is unique and lets you use two screens at the same time, but the setup is bulky, cumbersome, and not as regularly useful as you'd think. Works on all three major US networks $900 at Best Buy (AT&T) Buy at LG Photograph: Lauren Joseph/WIRED The Phone With a Stylus Samsung Galaxy Note 10 The Galaxy Note 10 is a ginormous Android phone (8/10, WIRED Recommends). It's bigger than big. If that's your thing, you'll also like the included S Pen's Bluetooth functionality, which lets you use it to do things like open apps and remotely snap pics. This beefy, brawny phone can handle your most demanding tasks with all its flagship specs. Samsung recently announced this phone's successor, the Galaxy Note 20 and Note 20 Ultra. They're very similar to the Galaxy S20 phones but with the classic S Pen. We're currently testing the Note 20 range and will update this guide when we've spent enough time with it. Regardless how much we end up liking the Note 20, last year's Note 10 is still a good buy if you really want the S Pen (and can get it for less money). If the stylus isn't something you care about but you want to stick to Samsung, then go for our favorite from the brand at the moment—the Galaxy S20. Works on all three major US networks $950 at Amazon $950 at Best Buy Photograph: Samsung Honorable Mentions Other Phenomenal Phones There are a lot of Android phones out there, and most of them are not on this list. Here are a few other standouts to consider. The Samsung Galaxy S10 range (9/10, WIRED Recommends) is still available at a reduced price. They're excellent and powerful phones, with the S10E ($600) especially offering some great value for the money. They all have headphone jacks too. The OnePlus 7T (9/10, WIRED Recommends) remains a great buy if you can find it. It was a runner-up on this guide, but we've moved it here as it has been out of stock for a while. It's unclear if OnePlus will sell this phone again, so if you see it at another retailer for less than $500, nab it. Check out our review for more details. Motorola's Moto Edge and Moto Edge Plus (read our review) are OK high-end phones. The Edge Plus ($1,000) is the flagship with all the bells and whistles, but it's exclusive to Verizon. The unlocked Moto Edge ($500) is a better value with great performance, a nice screen, long battery life, and decent cameras. But if you hate curved-edge screens, you won't enjoy holding either of these phones much. Also, the Edge's launch price is temporary. It'll jump back to its $700 MSRP, and you can do better at that price. Motorola's Moto G Stylus ($300) (read our review) is the successor to the Moto G7 we really liked last year, but this year it doesn't add up. Moto added a gimmicky stylus to it that isn't easy to write with (and there's no built-in palm rejection, so good luck). You get two-day battery life, decent performance, a solid 6.4-inch screen, and an uncluttered Android experience. It also comes with the perks of having a plastic back (more durable than glass), a headphone jack, and a MicroSD card slot if you want more than the included 128 GB of storage. The triple-camera system (main, wide-angle, macro) can snap some nice photos with good lighting, too. But it's only $50 less than the Google Pixel 4A, and we think it's worth saving up for that phone. The 4A has a much better camera, superior performance, NFC for contactless payments, and far better software support. Motorola is only promising one Android version upgrade for this phone, which means you're out of luck after a year. Check out the Asus ROG Phone III coming this September. This is a phone for people who play mobile videogames a lot. There's not much reason to get it otherwise. For example, there are two touch-sensitive trigger buttons on the phone's body you can remap to specific controls in any game. It's thick and bulky, but that's to fit a massive 6,000-mAh battery to last for several hours of gaming, if not more. It's plenty powerful with a nice screen, but unfortunately, the cameras aren't as good as they should be. Get the OnePlus Nord (9/10, WIRED Recommends) if you can. This phone isn't being sold in the US, but if you're in a country where it's available, OnePlus' latest offers nearly unrivaled value. The TCL 10 Pro ($450) and TCL 10L ($250) are worth a look. These are the first two phones to be sold in the US from the popular TV brand, and they're a promising pair. You get good performance, nice screens, headphone jacks, and decent battery life across the board. The cameras are just OK, and TCL is only offering one Android version upgrade for now, but they're affordable at $450 and $250, respectively. The LG G8X ThinQ Dual Screen ($650) comes bundled with a case that adds a second screen. The LG G8 ThinQ ($600) is a little more than a year old, but it's still powerful and has a high-quality headphone jack like the LG V60. Their cameras aren't as good, though. Photograph: LG Avoid These Phones Half-Hearted Endorsements There are many phones we've previously recommended that are right on the edge. They're either getting old (two-plus years) or getting too weak. We worry they won't have software support beyond this year or may feel too sluggish after the next Android update. You can take the risk to get the savings if you like. We've also added some newer phones that we just can't recommend after testing. The LG G7 ($300), Nokia 7.1 ($209), Samsung Galaxy S9, and Moto G7 are all usable, but we think you're better off with the devices listed here or in our Best Cheap Phones guide. The Samsung Galaxy A51 is an OK phone, but it doesn't quite deliver with its $400 price tag. The $100 Nokia 1.3 is also just too cheap. It's frustratingly slow to use. The Best Android Phones Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3175x175(CURRENT).thumb.jpg.b05acc060982b36f5891ba728e6d953c.jpg)
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.