Opting for the most productive Android telephone can really feel overwhelming as there are such a lot of choices from such a lot of manufacturers, it’s onerous to understand the place to start out. Not like Apple, which sticks to its graceful lineup of iPhones, Android gives a global of selection. Whether or not you might be eyeing the most recent flagship from Samsung, a budget-friendly smartphone from Motorola or one thing distinctive with a foldable design, there’s an Android software available in the market to fit your wishes.
The wonderful thing about Android is its flexibility. You’ll to find telephones with other display sizes, digicam setups, battery existence or even quirky extras like stylus strengthen or rugged builds. Plus, Android allows you to customise your software in your middle’s content material – one thing Apple lovers would possibly envy. We’ve examined and researched the highest Android telephones that can assist you to find the appropriate one to your price range, way of life, and tech personal tastes.
Perfect Android telephones for 2025
Learn our complete Google Pixel 9 Professional and Pixel 9 Professional XL assessment
Processor: Google Tensor G4 | Show: 6.3-inch Tremendous Actua, as much as 120Hz | Cameras: Rear array (50MP large, 48MP ultrawide with Macro Focal point, 48MP 5x telephoto lens), 42MP twin PD selfie entrance digicam with autofocus | Battery: 4,700mAh
In the end, a smaller Pixel Professional. Google’s Pixel sequence has lengthy been one of the most absolute best Android telephones round, with the Professional style being the awesome model. Nevertheless it was once all the time just a little too giant and too bulky for the ones people who’ve smaller palms or need our telephones to slot in our wallet. Cue the Pixel 9 Professional, which is the littler model of the Pixel 9 Professional XL. As an alternative of a rather massive 6.8-inch display like that on its larger sibling, the usual Professional has a 6.3-inch show this is simple to move. Not more being concerned about shedding your Pixel Professional simply since you fumbled whilst attempting to achieve the highest of the display!
Higher but, with the Pixel 9 Professional, Google hasn’t sacrificed any key characteristic to get to the smaller dimension, which means you can to find the similar digicam setup and function in each handsets. The one actual variations are the display dimension, battery and charging speeds, because the non-XL style recharges at a somewhat slower charge. However the Pixel 9 Professional may be a lot longer-lasting than the XL, notching nearly 25 hours on our battery check.
The ones distinctions apart, the Pixel 9 Professional lineup is our favourite Android telephone as a result of its top-notch digicam efficiency, intriguing AI options and a basic grown-up vibe. Whilst earlier Pixel flagships had a colourful, blocky design that felt recent, this yr’s gadgets really feel cast and delicate. And, dare we are saying it, nearly like iPhones. With out the digicam bars, they’d be lovely onerous to inform with the exception of Apple’s telephones.
In all probability as a result of it is grown up such a lot over time, however the Pixel telephones now value the similar as iPhones. The Pixel 9 Professional and iPhone 15 Professional each get started at $999, and even though a few of us have come to think about Google’s handsets because the extra competitively priced choice, this yr’s style may well be excellent sufficient to justify a top rate worth. In case you nonetheless need one thing from the Pixel 9 circle of relatives however do not need to pay $1,000, the bottom Pixel 9 continues to be a cast handset for most of the people. However because it stands, the Pixel 9 Professional is the most productive Android handset cash should buy. — Cherlynn Low, Deputy Editor
- Nice digicam options and progressed telephoto digicam
- A yr of Gemini Complicated free of charge
- Implausible battery existence
- A phenomenal, brilliant display that’s simple to make use of outdoor
- Tensor G4 runs cooler than its predecessor
- Slower charging speeds than the XL
- Now not the most productive telephone for gaming
Sam Rutherford for Engadget
Learn our complete Google Pixel 9a assessment
Processor: Google Tensor G4 | Show: 6.3-inch 1,080 x 2,424 pOLED, as much as 120Hz | Cameras: Rear array (48MP large, 13MP ultrawide), 13MP entrance digicam | Battery: 5,100mAh
The Pixel 9a is not particularly flashy and it does not have any particular options that are not already to be had on its costlier siblings. In truth, it in truth has slower charging and it is lacking strengthen for a few of Google’s homegrown device just like the Screenshots app. However for everybody who simply desires a easy telephone with a cast design, a pleasing display, superb cameras and powerful battery existence, the Pixel 9a is actually onerous to overcome. So whilst it is not tremendous fancy, the telephone has all of its maximum necessary bases coated (after which some). However most significantly, beginning at simply $499, this telephone appears like a fantastic deal that punches smartly above its worth. — Sam Rutherford, Senior Reporter
- Graceful design
- Superior battery existence
- Great show
- Nice cameras
- IP68 ranking for mud and water resistance
- Charging may well be quicker
- No Pixel Screenshot app
- Macro Focal point mode could be a bit finicky
Photograph by way of Sam Rutherford / Engadget
Learn our complete Samsung Galaxy S25 Extremely assessment
Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite | Show: 6.9-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2x QHD+, as much as 120Hz | Cameras: Rear array (200MP, Twin Pixel AF, Virtual Zoom 100x, 50MP Macro, 50MP UW), 12MP entrance digicam | Battery: 5,000mAh
The S25 Extremely is a do-anything telephone. It has quite a lot of cameras together with a 5x telephoto lens and a brand new 50-megapixel sensor for its ultra-wide shooter, a fantastic 6.9-inch AMOLED show (which is 0.1 inches larger than final yr) and naturally, Samsung’s signature S Pen. That stated, for 2025, Samsung’s primary center of attention was once on its progressed Galaxy AI options comparable to Now Temporary, which creates a personalised feed of reports, occasions and extra. There’s additionally Drawing Help that makes it more straightforward to create AI-generated artwork, or you’ll be able to flip to AI Choose for lend a hand with taking screenshots, turning movies into GIFs or summarizing tales.
Sadly, with the exception of a brand new Snapdragon 8 Elite chip, the S25 Extremely doesn’t include a ton of latest {hardware} in comparison to its predecessor (or the S23U for that topic). So whilst Samsung’s newest flagship is a brilliant telephone, it doesn’t really feel like an crucial improve for other folks with flagship gadgets which are just a yr or two outdated. — S.R.
- Very good display
- Nice efficiency and battery existence
- Anti-reflective Gorilla Armor 2 panels
- Slimmer bezels
- New 50MP ultra-wide sensor
- S Pen now not suppers Air movements
- Identical primary and telephoto cameras as final yr
- Now not absolutely appropriate with magnetic Qi2 equipment
- Dear
Sam Rutherford for Engadget
Learn our complete Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 assessment
Processor: Snapdragon 8 Elite | Show: 8-inch 2184 x 1968QXGA+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X complete show, 6.5-inch 2520 x 1080FHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X duvet show | Cameras: Rear array (200MP large, 12MP ultrawide, 10MP telephoto), 10MP entrance digicam | Battery: 4,400mAh
One of the vital greatest problems with foldable telephones is the added dimension and weight that frequently comes with the inclusion of a versatile show. Samsung has made {that a} factor of the previous at the Galaxy Z Fold 7, which sports activities greater monitors — each in and out — whilst being 26 p.c thinner than earlier than. And as though that wasn’t sufficient, the Z Fold 7 additionally options progressed sturdiness, higher efficiency and a brand new 200MP primary digicam, matching or exceeding what you get from conventional flagship smartphones. The primary downsides are that at $2,000, it is nonetheless some distance from reasonably priced and for long-time Samsung lovers, the lack of S Pen strengthen could also be a dealbreaker. However for individuals who need to revel in new heights in foldable telephone design, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 is a masterpiece of contemporary machine design. — S.R.
- Exquisitely skinny design
- Sleeker hinge
- Large 200MP primary digicam
- Higher presentations
- Best-tier efficiency
- Very dear
- No S Pen strengthen
- Mediocre charging speeds
Sam Rutherford for Engadget
Learn our complete OnePlus 13 assessment
Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite | Show: 6.8-inch OLED, 120Hz, 4,500 nits max brightness | Cameras: Rear array (50MP large, 50MP ultrawide, 50MP telephoto), 32MP entrance digicam | Battery: 6,000mAh
Whilst the OnePlus 13 options some elementary AI options like Google’s Circle to Seek and Gemini assistant, it’s actually simply an old style flagship in all of the absolute best tactics. That’s as a result of as an alternative of specializing in gadget finding out, OnePlus filled the telephone with lots of top-notch {hardware}. It sports activities a 6.8-inch OLED show with a fantastic height brightness of as much as 4,500 nits. The OP13 additionally gives superb efficiency because of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite chip, together with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of garage. There also are 3 50-MP rear cameras together with one with a 3x telephoto zoom and a large 6,000 mAh battery that’s larger than what you get in nearly all of its competition.
OnePlus didn’t skimp at the telephone’s design both, because the OP13 nonetheless comes with the corporate’s signature Alert Slider. Plus, should you go for the blue or white variants, you’ll get a sturdy and really touchable vegan leather-based again that is helping the telephone stand out amongst all its glass brick opponents. However the most productive phase is that beginning at $900, it prices not up to an similar Galaxy S25+ too.
- Elegance-leading battery existence
- Tremendous-bright show
- Nice efficiency
- Sexy design
- Photograph high quality is usually a contact higher
- Handiest six years of device strengthen as an alternative of 7
- Wishes a case to totally strengthen magnetic Qi2 equipment
What to search for in a brand new Android telephone
Efficiency
With regards to selecting our favourite Android telephones, the primary issues we search for are lovely easy: excellent efficiency (each compute and AI), a pleasing show, cast design, sharp cameras, lengthy battery existence and a vital dedication to ongoing device strengthen. For efficiency, now not handiest will we take a look at benchmarks and different metrics, however we additionally overview telephones in response to responsiveness. Without reference to whether or not you’re studying, textual content messaging, scrolling thru social media or enjoying a recreation, no person desires a machine that feels gradual.
Show
With regards to presentations, we in most cases want OLED panels that may produce wealthy, saturated colours with no less than 600 nits of brightness, even though lots of our peak mid-range and high-end telephones can hit 1,000 nits or extra. And extra not too long ago, maximum of our favourite gadgets additionally strengthen monitors with rapid refresh charges of 90Hz or 120Hz, which provides an additional stage of smoothness and fluidity.
Design
Now we can admit there’s a little bit of subjectivity when deciding which telephones glance the most productive, however there are different design facets like mud and water resistance or display sturdiness that may make a large distinction to long-term survival. It’s additionally necessary to imagine such things as strengthen for wi-fi charging, energy sharing (aka opposite wi-fi charging) and UWB connectivity, which may have an have an effect on on how your telephone interacts together with your different gadgets.
Cameras
Clearly, for footage we’re in search of sharp, colourful pictures in each brilliant and low-light prerequisites. And we wish video clips with excessive dynamic vary, wealthy audio and easy symbol stabilization. Additional cameras for ultra-wide and telephoto lenses are a plus. The most efficient cameras must additionally come with options like devoted evening modes, strengthen for more than a few video recording resolutions, and further picture modes like timelapse, gradual movement and extra.
Battery and device
In the end, on the subject of longevity, we’re in search of all-day battery existence on gadgets that still delivered nice effects on our native video rundown check (no less than 16 hours on a rate, however extra is clearly higher). Wi-fi charging functions have grow to be nearly ubiquitous over the last few years, and maximum of our peak selections have this additional perk. Speedy-charging is to be had on some Android telephones, too. In the end, with other folks maintaining onto their telephones longer than ever, we adore to look corporations decide to no less than 3 years of device strengthen, upgrades and common safety updates.
