The most efficient Android telephones to shop for in 2025

The Android ecosystem is all about selection. Whilst iPhone homeowners have a smaller pool of latest gadgets to select from when it’s time to improve, there’s a much broader vary of possible choices on Android. You need unbelievable digital camera zoom? A integrated stylus? A telephone that runs a whole desktop atmosphere while you plug it right into a observe? You’ll be able to in finding it on Android. Heck, you’ll in finding all of that during a single device.

At the turn facet, all that selection could make for some exhausting selections. Right here’s the place I’d love to lend a hand; I’ve examined a complete boatload of new Android telephones, and I believe there are some actual winners within the present batch. It’s all a question of what you’re on the lookout for, what you’re at ease spending, and what your definition of a “slightly sized telephone” is. (I have my own, individually.)

As you sift throughout the choices, you’ll nearly indisputably come throughout tech’s favourite buzzphrase of the yr: AI. Typically talking, AI has but to in reality provoke me on a telephone. The Pixel 9 sequence has some probably helpful options, like a brand new Screenshots app that makes use of AI to tag related data in metadata, and Galaxy gadgets can translate a telephone name for you in actual time. This stuff are not anything to sneeze at! However none of it feels just like the platform shift that the massive tech firms stay promising. Perfect to not put an excessive amount of inventory in any corporate’s AI claims simply but.

In the event you reside in the United States, I’ve some unhealthy information concerning the Android marketplace, although. For sophisticated causes having to do with “capitalism” and “geopolitics,” we don’t get just about as most of the choices as you’ll in finding in Asia and Europe — manufacturers like Huawei, Xiaomi, Honor, and Oppo simply aren’t to be had right here. I’ve restricted this information to the gadgets I’ve individually examined extensive; thus, this can be a rather US-centric set of suggestions. 

With that during thoughts, it’s additionally price acknowledging that most of the people in the United States get their telephones “free of charge” from their wi-fi provider. If you’ll arrange it, purchasing a telephone unlocked offers you probably the most flexibility and freedom when you find yourself in need of to switch carriers within the close to long run. Telephone producers additionally be offering financing and trade-in offers to make fee extra manageable. However in the event you’re glad together with your provider and the unfastened telephone on be offering is the only you in reality need, through all manner, take the unfastened telephone. Simply make sure to perceive the phrases, particularly if you want to switch plans to money in at the deal. 

Then again you move about it, you have got some improbable choices to your subsequent Android telephone.

Display: 6.3-inch 1080p 120Hz OLED / Processor: Tensor G4 / Cameras: 50-megapixel f/1.7 major with OIS, 48-megapixel ultrawide, 10.5-megapixel selfie / Battery: 4,700mAh / Charging: 27W stressed out, 15W wi-fi (with Pixel Stand 2) / Climate resistance: IP68

Google’s {hardware} is best than ever, and the entire Pixel 9 lineup feels simply as polished as anything else you’d get from Samsung or Apple. However at $799, the fundamental Pixel 9 is in a in particular interesting place, and in the event you don’t desire a telephoto digital camera or the most important display screen, then that is the Android telephone to get.

The Pixel 9 comes with some important quality-of-life enhancements like a quicker fingerprint scanner for unlocking the telephone. The digital camera is as dependable as ever, and in the event you’re into AI photograph modifying methods, boy does this phone have ‘em. There’s a brand new Screenshots app that acts as a spot to retailer the entire data that will in a different way be misplaced at sea to your digital camera roll, and it makes use of AI to parse data out and make it searchable. Kinda to hand.

Even with out AI, this is a wonderful telephone. It’s additionally designed to move the space, with seven years of promised OS updates, which very most probably manner you’ll outgrow the telephone ahead of Google stops supporting it. Its possible for long-term price and the standard of the {hardware} make it a very easy advice for any person who simply desires a pleasing Android telephone that works.

Read my Google Pixel 9 review.

Display: 6.8-inch 1440p 120Hz OLED / Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 / Cameras: 200-megapixel major with OIS, 50-megapixel 5x telephoto with OIS, 10-megapixel 3x telephoto with OIS, 12-megapixel ultrawide, 12-megapixel selfie / Battery: 5,000mAh / Charging: 45W stressed out, 15W wi-fi / Climate resistance: IP68

The Samsung Galaxy S24 Extremely says all of it within the title: Extremely. It has the whole lot it’s essential ask for in a telephone — smartly, no less than person who doesn’t fold in part. There’s a stylus, two telephoto cameras, a large battery, and some of the easiest ding dang monitors on any telephone, any place.

So why am I a little bit underwhelmed? For starters, Samsung swapped the 10x telephoto digital camera at the S23 Ultra for a higher-resolution 5x digital camera that makes use of in-sensor crop to zoom to 10x. This can be a good transfer, and pictures at 10x glance advantageous, if no longer as crisp as they did at the final fashion. It’s additionally pricier this time round, and it used to be already a pricey telephone. It’s beautiful darn heavy, too, and Samsung’s transfer to titanium for the body hasn’t made it any lighter.

Non-public emotions concerning the zoom lens apart, the S24 Extremely remains to be mainly peerless. Its much-touted AI options are advantageous, but when there’s something that makes it definitely worth the improve, it’s the display screen. Its anti-glare coating and boosted most brightness make it so at ease to make use of out of doors it’s nearly magic. That’s infrequently a complicated new tech characteristic, however the Galaxy S24 Extremely is infrequently any outdated telephone.

Read my Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra review.

Display: 6.82-inch 1440p 120Hz LTPO OLED / Processor: Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Cameras: 50-megapixel f/1.6 major with OIS, 64-megapixel 3x telephoto with OIS, 48-megapixel f/2.2 ultrawide / Battery: 5400mAh / Charging: 80W stressed out, 50W wi-fi / Climate-resistance ranking: IP65

After a couple of years and a little soul-searching, OnePlus is again to its roots. The OnePlus 12 is a wonderful instrument with high-end efficiency with a aggressive value: $799 for the bottom fashion with a hefty 12GB of RAM and 256GB of garage.

For that value, you get a crisp 1440p 6.8-inch show, a top-tier Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, and a succesful digital camera. It helps wi-fi charging, one thing that earlier OnePlus flagships have skipped. Battery efficiency is improbable, too — energy customers can get via a complete day, and lightweight customers can stretch it to 2.

What sticks out concerning the OnePlus 12, although, may simply be what’s no longer right here: a host of AI options. Truthfully? That’s roughly refreshing. One of the most AI options Google and Samsung are busy delivery presently are great, however none of them really feel very important. If you wish to take a seat out this AI hype cycle however you continue to need a really perfect telephone, the OnePlus 12 may well be the only.

Read my OnePlus 12 review.

Display: 8.0-inch 2076p 120Hz OLED interior display screen, 6.3-inch 1080p 120Hz OLED quilt display screen / Processor: Tensor G4 / Cameras: 48-megapixel f/1.7 major with OIS, 10.8-megapixel 5x telephoto with OIS, 10.5-megapixel ultrawide, 10-megapixel selfie (quilt display screen), 10-megapixel interior selfie digital camera / Battery: 4,650mAh / Charging: 21W stressed out, 7.5W wi-fi / Climate resistance: IPX8

Does any person really desire a folding telephone? Most definitely no longer. However the usage of one is extraordinarily great, and the Pixel 9 Professional Fold is the nicest book-style foldable I’ve used so far. It’s expensive, it’s nonetheless bulkier than a slab-style telephone, and its cameras aren’t reasonably as great as the opposite Pixel 9 Professional telephones. However it’s a pleasure to make use of, each as a normal telephone with the quilt display screen and while you spread the massive interior display screen.

The 9 Professional Fold is Google’s 2d folding telephone, following up the passport-shaped Pixel Fold with a structure that feels a lot more acquainted. The outer display screen measures 6.3 inches at the diagonal, however extra importantly, the ratio is equal to Google’s slab telephones. By way of comparability, Samsung’s Z Fold 6 makes use of a taller, narrower structure that feels cramped. Having used them each, I a lot desire the 9 Professional Fold’s means.

That stated, the 9 Professional Fold isn’t with out compromises. The digital camera gadget isn’t reasonably as excellent as what you get within the different 9 Professional telephones. The outer display screen isn’t as sharp or shiny because the Pixel 9 Professional’s, both. And it’s no longer as sturdy as its slab-style opposite numbers — there’s no mud resistance, and you’ll’t get it repaired simply any place. For $1,800, that’s an terrible lot to swallow. For the adventurous early adopter, although, the 9 Professional Fold might be very rewarding.

Read my Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold review.

Display: 6.7-inch 1080p 120Hz OLED / Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 / Cameras: 50-megapixel F/1.9 major with OIS, 50-megapixel ultrawide, 32-megapixel selfie / Battery: 4,700mAh / Charging: 45W stressed out, 15W wi-fi / Climate resistance: IP54

The Not anything Telephone 2 doesn’t be offering the perfect price proposition in its upper-midrange class. But when it’s genre you’re after and one thing a little bit flashy (smartly, so much flashy), then the Telephone 2 is a simple select.

It gives a excellent 6.7-inch display screen, nice day-to-day efficiency and battery existence, and a succesful digital camera gadget. However that’s the standard stuff — what’s odd concerning the Telephone 2 is its set of LED mild strips at the again panel. They remove darkness from in mixtures referred to as “glyphs,” and you’ll set them to provide you with a warning to positive notifications. It’s neat however in the long run isn’t as useful because the gadget’s customizable always-on show.

At the problem, the Telephone 2 is best splash-resistant somewhat than totally immune to water submersion like just about all different telephones over $500. It’s additionally no longer totally supported on Verizon’s community, which takes it out of competition for numerous the United States inhabitants.

If neither of the above is a deal-breaker, and the Telephone 2’s styling appeals to you, then it’s a very good selection. Something’s evidently — it for sure sticks out from the group.

Read my Nothing Phone 2 review.

There are lots of extra nice Android gadgets that weren’t lined right here, and a couple of are price calling out that didn’t reasonably make the minimize for a advice.

• First off, there’s the Galaxy Z Flip 6, Samsung’s very good clamshell-style foldable. It’s no longer as a lot a laugh to make use of because the 2024 Motorola Razr Plus — which facilitates the usage of apps at the quilt display screen extra simply — however Motorola’s monitor report for instrument updates isn’t nice, so the Z Turn 6 is a more secure guess for a turn telephone. Read our review.
• The OnePlus Open may be some other excellent book-style foldable possibility. It’s skinny and lightweight, and the instrument contains some considerate approaches to multitasking — a an important a part of the folding telephone enjoy. However it received’t be supported with instrument updates for so long as the Pixel 9 Professional Fold or the Galaxy Z Fold 6. Read our review.
• Remaining however no longer least, there’s the Google Pixel 8A. In the event you in reality wish to maximize the go back for your funding, it’s exhausting to overcome Google’s newest midrange telephone. It covers all of the fundamentals for $499 whilst providing seven years of instrument improve. Read our review.

Replace, January eighth: Up to date to mirror present pricing and availability.