The best Android phones cover every base you could think of in the phone world. Want something cheap? Foldable? All in on cameras? Something that will charge from 0% - 100% before you've finished your coffee? All these and more live within this guide.
The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra sits at the top of our list right now. The Google Pixel 10a remains the based value option, while the Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro with its two-day battery life is the top pick for users wanting efficiency out of their new phone more than anything else.
As we test more Android phones, we'll update this list to make sure you're always kept in the know as to what the best picks are. But right now, this is our list of the best Android phones you can buy.
The best Android phones you can buy right now
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Best Android phone overall
The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra cements Samsung's status as the top Android manufacturer by successfully bridging the gap between high-end hardware and futuristic software.
The centerpiece of the phone's new featuresis the new Privacy Display, a feature that single-handedly makes this the best choice for professionals and security-conscious users. While this technology does result in a slightly dimmer peak brightness and narrower viewing angles compared to the S25 Ultra, the trade-off is a level of utility and privacy that no other competitor currently offers.
On the photography front, the S26 Ultra continues to dominate through sheer versatility and improved low-light performance. Furthermore, the new Horizon Lock feature for video is a game-changer for mobile creators, ensuring that footage remains perfectly level and stable regardless of how much the phone is tilted or shaken.
Despite its excellence, the S26 Ultra is not without its flaws, most notably a big camera bump that causes the phone to wobble significantly when placed flat. Additionally, power users may be disappointed by the lack of built-in Qi2 magnets for accessories and the decision to skip the next-generation silicon-carbon batteries found in some rivals. However, with a stellar battery life of over 16 hours and a software ecosystem that is now smarter than ever, these negatives are minor hurdles. For anyone willing to pay the $1,299 premium, the Galaxy S26 Ultra is undeniably the most capable, innovative, and powerful Android phone you can buy today.
- Read our full Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra review
Best budget Android phone
The Google Pixel 10a is a disappointing upgrade when compared to the Pixel 9a, with almost identical hardware and few noticeable changes. However, considering how much we liked the Pixel 9a, it means there's still plenty to appreciate where the newer model is concerned.
You get the same 6.3-inch, super bright display, an affordable $499 price tag and a slight redesign that pushes the camera bump all the way inside the phone. That's right, this phone is completely flat on both the front and back, with nothing resembling a camera bump to be seen.
Google's also added satellite SOS connectivity, which debuted on Pixel 10, and makes the Pixel 10a one of the cheapest (if not the cheapest) devices to have that emergency feature. Which just goes to show that you don't need an expensive flagship to be able to call for help in the wilderness.
The downsides are that the Tensor G4 chipset has made a comeback, and causes the phone to miss out on a lot of the AI features that make the regular Pixel 10 so appealing. There are plenty of AI features tobe found, but you're missing a lot of the bigger stars like Magic Cue. Likewise, the cameras, flat as they may be, haven't changed compared to last year.
While the Pixel 9a's photography skills were excellent, we would have liked to see some kind of hardware upgrade. Still, it means you get to take advantage of the wider aperture for sharper images and better low-light performance.
We still haven't had a lot of time with the Pixel 10a, and that means a lot of our testing is still to come. That's when we'll find out key details about the phone's battery life, how performance compares to Pixel 9a and whether the camera quality has changed with the new software.
- Read our Google Pixel 10a hands-on review
Best Android phone for battery life
If you need a phone that'll last for as long as possible between charges, I give you the Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro. It hit 20 hours and 34 minutes in our battery test, making it one of the best Android phones for battery life we've ever tested. It's also a huge jump up from the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra's 16 hours and 10 minutes.
The Phone 9 Pro is designed for gaming, so it does have a specific aesthetic that's more like one of the best gaming mice than the minimalist look of the Google Pixel 10. I wouldn't say its an acquired taste, but it probably won't suit everyone. Which is kind of the story of this phone generally.
It has a hefty battery, but that also makes it heavier than the other phones on this list (except the Motorola Razr Fold). The Phone 9 Pro has one of the top chips (Snapdragon 8 Elite) but is also the same price as the 2026 flagship Ultra/Pro phones, even though it was released at the end of 2024.
That wouldn't normally be a problem, but Asus only committed to two years of software updates, which means the end of support is coming up pretty soon. This sounds like a negative picture, but it isn't. It's an incredible phone for gaming and high-resource tasks, and the X Mode makes them run smoother too.
It's an impressive phone, even if the images aren't quite as colorful as those you can snap on Samsung's range, but it can be difficult to recommend over the others on this list unless you really need the mega battery life either for gaming or because you're often away from a charger for long stretches.
- Read our full Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro review
Best Android flagship phone
The Google Pixel 10 easily offers some of the best upgrades of the entire Pixel 10 line-up. Not just improving upon last year's model, but adding features we thought we'd only ever see on a Pro-tier model.
The big change is the fact that the phone now comes with a 10.8MP telephoto lens, complete with 5x optical zoom. While this isn't the best resolution, and has caused the ultrawide camera to drop to 13MP, it's still a fantastic extra that most entry-level flagships prefer to ignore.
On top of that the phone comes with a range of new AI features. There's the new Pixel Journal, and improvements to features like Best Take and Add me for optimal group photos. But we also get to enjoy features like Ask Photos, for speedier AI photo edits and the Magic Cue assistant that aims to get you important information when you need it most.
The new 3nm Tensor G5 chipset also offers a small performance boost, though don't expect this to be able to pull off Apple or Samsung levels of computing. Still, it seems to have had an impact on the battery life considering the phone lasted 13 hours and 13 minutes, compared to the 12 hours and 30 minutes on the Pixel 9. Which is a nice little improvement.
And since it's a flagship Pixel model, it get the same outstanding 7 years of major Android and security updates to bring even more features to the experience.
- Read our full Google Pixel 10 review
Best foldable Android phone
The Motorola Razr Fold commands attention with its expansive 8.1-inch main display, which offers a truly immersive viewing experience, and backs it up with a record-setting 14 hour 44 minute battery life in our lab tests. Together, these strengths set a new bar for all-day usability in a foldable phone.
Durability is another area where the Razr Fold stands out. Its hinge and chassis carry IP48 and IP49 ratings, offering solid protection against water and dust. This makes it a practical choice for pockets or small bags, and its thin, folded profile means it’s easy to slip into your daily routine without the bulk of older foldables.
When it comes to battery and charging, the Razr Fold impresses beyond just lab numbers. With 80W wired charging support, it powers up quickly. More importantly, during our real-world testing, we consistently ended long days with around 35% charge remaining, so you can confidently leave the charger behind for a full day’s work or travel.
The productivity gains are very real: the Razr Fold is the closest thing to a laptop replacement we’ve used in a phone. Its large screen and multitasking-friendly software make document editing, split-screen work, and even light photo editing genuinely comfortable, giving it a major edge for anyone who wants to do more on the go.
Another welcome benefit of the Razr Fold is that its price - it's a touch cheaper than the Galaxy Z Fold 7 while offering a larger display, although it doesn’t quite match Samsung’s advanced AI tools or design polish. If price and screen size matter more than bleeding-edge features, the Razr Fold is the more pragmatic choice.
At $1,899, the Razr Fold offers tangible value for buyers who want a rugged, practical foldable with a big screen and top-tier battery life. If your priority is cutting-edge AI or the most refined design, rivals like the Z Fold 7 or Pixel 10 Pro Fold may be the better fit.
- Read our full Motorola Razr Fold review
Also tested
How we test the best Android phones
The same method we use to test the best phones applies to the dozen or so Android phones we evaluate each year. Every smartphone Tom’s Guide evaluates is tested for several days in real-world use cases and benchmarked with a gamut of performance-measuring apps. In terms of performance, we used Geekbench to measure overall speed and 3DMark Wild Life to measure graphics performance.
We also use our own video editing test in the Adobe Premiere Rush app to see how long it takes to transcode a clip, which we run on both Android phones and iPhone to compare performance. (This test is not always available for all phones we test due to app compatibility issues.)
| Row 0 - Cell 0 | Geekbench (single-core / multicore) | 3DMark Wild Life Unlimited (FPS) |
Galaxy S26 Ultra | 3,785 / 11,563 | 179 |
Pixel 10a | 1,694 / 4,501 | 58 |
Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro | 2,012 / 8,076 | 26.3 |
Pixel 10 | 2345 / 6581 | 80 |
Motorola Razr Fold | 2,711 / 9,134 | 129 |
To measure the quality of a phone's display, we perform lab tests to determine the brightness of the panel (in nits), as well as how colorful each screen is (DCI-P3 color gamut). In these cases, higher numbers are better. We also measure color accuracy of each panel with a Delta-E rating, where lower numbers are better and score of 0 is perfect.
| Row 0 - Cell 0 | Peak brightness (nits) | DCI-P3 (%) | Delta-E |
Galaxy S26 Ultra | 1,806 | 106 (Vivid), 90 (Natural) | 0.29 (Vivid), 0.22 (Natural) |
Pixel 10a | 1,896 | 95 (Adaptive), 85 (Natural) | 0.26 (Adaptive), 0.21 (Natural) |
Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro | 1,676 | 117.8 | 0.33 |
Pixel 10 | 2,333 | 89 (Adaptive), 76.9 (Natural) | 0.29 (Adaptive), 0.30 (Natural) |
Motorola Razr Fold | 2,192 | 88.5% / 159.6% (Natural / Vivid) | 0.20 / 0.35 (Natural / Vivid) |
| Row 0 - Cell 0 | Battery life (Hrs:Mins) |
Galaxy S26 Ultra | 16:10 |
Pixel 10a | 15:16 |
Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro | 20.34 |
Pixel 10 | 13:13 |
Motorola Razr Fold | 14:44 |
One of the most important tests we run is the Tom's Guide battery test. We run a web surfing test over 5G (or 4G if the phone doesn't have 5G support) at 150 nits of screen brightness until the battery gives out. In general, a phone that lasts 11 hours or more is good, and anything above 15 hours makes our list of the best phone battery life.
How to choose the best Android phone
The first place to start when shopping for the best Android phone for you is your budget, and there are a few tiers. The cheapest Android phones cost under $200 and offer mostly the basics for using apps, taking pictures and staying connected. We chart the best cheap phones under $300, though honestly, you'll make a lot of compromises to get a phone priced that low.
As you move up to under $450, you'll find more compelling handsets, touting better processors, higher-grade materials and more camera lenses. Our main guide to the best cheap phones for less than $500 goes into greater depth on these devices.
Jump into the $700-and-up range, and the best phones offer flagship-caliber performance along with cutting-edge computational photography and special features. You'll start to see features like telephoto lenses appear at this level of phone.
The most premium Android phones offer the best hardware - and some of them even fold. But you'll be paying at least a grand, if not closer to two grand, for the privilege of accessing the best of Android.
Last but not least, we take the best phones out in the field to take photos outdoors, indoors and at night in low light to see how they perform versus their closest competitors.
We take shots of landscapes, food, portraits and more, and also allow you to be the judge with side-by-side comparisons in our reviews and 200 photo head-to-head shootouts.
