If you’re in the market for one of the best Android phones, the breadth of options can be overwhelming. But choice is one of the greatest things about Google’s mobile OS. Android provides a similar user experience across many makes and models of phones, while letting you prioritize the features that matter most to you.
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Those on a tight budget can get a pretty good Android phone for under $200. However, if you step up to the sub-$400 range, the choices get considerably better, especially when it comes to camera quality. And you can get flagship-level performance starting at under $700, if you're willing to live without some bells and whistles.
The most premium Android flagship phones start at $899, which offer the biggest, sharpest and brightest displays, the most advanced cameras and cutting edge features like reverse wireless charging and 120Hz screens. For now, 5G is a premium feature, but more affordable 5G Android phones that offer blazing fast downloads are on the way from multiple brands, like Samsung and TCL, and will arrive this summer.
Read on to find the best Android phone for your needs and budget.
What are the best Android phones?
We’ve tested all of the most popular Android phones in all shapes, sizes and prices here at Tom’s Guide, and the OnePlus 8 Pro is our new pick for the best Android phone, thanks to its stellar 120 Hz display, blistering performance, long-lasting battery life, wicked-fast charging and reasonable price, as it starts at just $899.
Still, Samsung's Galaxy S20 range commands your attention — particularly the 6.7-inch S20 Plus and 6.9-inch S20 Ultra. You'll also want to check out the cheaper 6.2-inch Galaxy S20 if you prefer phones small enough to use comfortably with one hand, while last year's still-worthwhile Galaxy S10 models remain available at reduced prices.
Android purists should consider the Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL. These phones offer a faster Google Assistant, secure face unlock and air gesture controls — though the outstanding cameras remain the Pixels' big selling point.
The cheaper of OnePlus' new flagships — the OnePlus 8 — also delivers compelling specs for a very reasonable $699. You just have to make do with a slight hit to camera quality, as well as a lack of wireless charging.
The $399 Pixel 3a is another great choice, as it offers fantastic cameras for hundreds less than your typical flagship. However, with a successor coming, you may want to wait a bit longer for the Pixel 4a (or entertain Apple's new iPhone SE 2020 if you're willing to leave Android for a great phone at an excellent price). Bargain hunters striving to spend even less can also find a very good option in the Moto G Power, which lasts the whole day on a charge, but costs just $249.
The best Android phones you can buy today
1. OnePlus 8 Pro
The best Android phone overall
Display: 6.78-inch OLED (3168x1440) | Android version: 10 with Oxygen OS | CPU: Snapdragon 865 | RAM: 8GB, 12GB | Storage / Expandable: 128GB, 256GB / No | Rear camera: 48MP wide (ƒ/1.78); 48MP ultrawide (ƒ/2.2); 8MP 3X telephoto (ƒ/2.4); 5MP color filter | Front camera: 16MP (ƒ/2.5) | Battery life (Hrs:Mins): 11:05
The OnePlus 8 Pro may seem like a departure from previous OnePlus handsets. After all, at $899, this is one of the most expensive phones OnePlus has ever made. But the OnePlus 8 Pro is the best Android phone because it packs as many high-end features as possible for an incomparable value.
In the case of the OnePlus 8 Pro, those features include a 120 Hz refresh rate for its 6.78-inch OLED screen and a top-of-the-line Snapdragon 865 system-on-chip. The OnePlus 8 Pro is the first OnePlus device to support wireless charging, and in the grand tradition of OnePlus pushing the battery envelope, its wireless charging standard is actually faster than many wired options.
You won’t get the best camera phone with the OnePlus 8 Pro — the Galaxy S20 Plus' photography is a bit better across the board. However, the OnePlus 8 Pro's four rear lenses can produce some impressive shots that measure up respectably against industry leaders. And while that $899 price may be lofty by OnePlus’ standards, it’s still $100 less than the least expensive Galaxy S20 model, not to mention $300 less than the S20 Plus.
Read our full OnePlus 8 Pro review.
2. Samsung Galaxy S20 Plus
The best premium Android phone
Display: 6.7-inch OLED (3200x1440) | Android version: 10 with OneUI | CPU: Snapdragon 865 | RAM: 12GB | Storage / Expandable: 128GB, 512GB / Yes | Rear camera: 12MP wide (ƒ/1.8); 12MP ultrawide (ƒ/2.2); 64MP 3X telephoto (ƒ/2.0); time-of-flight VGA | Front camera: 10MP (ƒ/2.2) | Battery life (Hrs:Mins): 10:31
At $1,199, the Samsung Galaxy S20 Plus is pricey, though you get a lot in return. For starters, the camera setup on the back of the S20 Plus impresses us with four lenses that produce great pictures, especially when you put that 64MP telephoto lens to work. You won't be able to zoom in like you can with the S20 Ultra's Space Zoom feature, but the shots that the S20 Plus yields still contain a lot of detail.
All of the other top Galaxy S20 features are available in the S20 Plus, including 5G connectivity, a Snapdragon 865 chipset that produces the best performance of any Android phone and a vibrant 6.7-inch display with a 120Hz refresh rate. A 4,500-mAh battery keeps things up and running, and the Galaxy S20 Plus offered better-than-average longevity in our testing. Ultimately, the S20 Plus' price will put it out of reach of most phone shoppers, though those who can afford it shouldn't think twice about snapping one up.
Read our full Samsung Galaxy S20 Plus review.
3. Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus
A better value than before
Display: 6.4-inch OLED (3040x1440) | Android version: 10 with OneUI | CPU: Snapdragon 855 | RAM: 8GB, 12GB | Storage / Expandable: 128GB, 512GB, 1TB / Yes | Rear camera: 12MP wide (ƒ/1.5, ƒ/2.4); 16MP ultrawide (ƒ/2.2); 12MP telephoto (ƒ/2.4) | Front camera: 10MP wide (ƒ/1.9); 8MP wide (ƒ/2.2) | Battery life (Hrs:Mins): 9:21
The Galaxy S10 Plus remains near the head of the Android class with innovations that still impress more than a year after its debut. A triple camera setup on the back of the S10 Plus coupled with AI improvements bolsters the phone's image capture abilities. And a 4,100 mAh battery means you can expect all-day battery life from one of the longest-lasting handsets we've tested in recent years.
The S10 Plus offers other features that make it one of the best Android phones. The Infinity-O display uses circular cutouts to house the phone's two-front cameras rather than a notch. There's an ultrasonic fingerprint sensor underneath the display that quickly unlocks your phone. And Wireless PowerShare means you can place other devices that support wireless charging on top of the S10 Plus' back and top off their batteries.
Just keep in mind that the Galaxy S20 Plus is now on sale, which offers a bigger display with a smoother refresh rate, 5G networking, and more. On the flip side, Samsung cut the price on the Galaxy S10 Plus by $150, so you can now get a top Android handset for $849.
Read our full Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus review.
4. Moto G Power
The longest-lasting Android phone
Display: 6.4-inch LCD (2300x1080) | Android version: 10 | CPU: Snapdragon 665 | RAM: 4GB | Storage / Expandable: 64GB / Yes | Rear camera: 16MP wide (ƒ/1.7), 8MP ultrawide (ƒ/2.2); 2MP macro (ƒ/2.2) | Front camera: 16MP (ƒ/2.0) | Battery life (Hrs:Mins): 16:10
Two things stand out about the Moto G Power — its giant battery and its sub-$300 price. The former allows Motorola’s budget phone to post the best time ever on our battery test, while the latter makes the Moto G Power a compelling purchase when compared to other midrange Android models.
On the battery front, the Moto G Power lasted 16 hours and 10 minutes on our battery test, in which phones continuously surf the web over LTE until they run out of power. That’s more than 30 minutes better than our previous champ for best phone battery life. (Coincidentally, that was the Moto G Power’s predecessor, the Moto G7 Power.) If you're willing to accept less battery life for a phone with a stylus, the Moto G Stylus is essentially a carbon copy of the Moto G Power, though it does cost $50 more.
Speaking of price, you can get the Moto G Power for $150 less than the Pixel 3a, and you don’t have to make many trade-offs for that lower price. The Snapdragon 665 chipset inside the Moto G Power turns in comparable performance, and while the Pixel still has the better cameras, the Moto G Power’s triple lens array does produce some very good shots. This is the best Android phone to get if you don’t want to spend a lot on your next handset.
Read our full Moto G Power review.
5. Google Pixel 3a
The Pixel's best features for less
Display: 5.6-inch OLED (2280x1080) | Android version: 10 | CPU: Snapdragon 670 | RAM: 4GB | Storage / Expandable: 64GB / No | Rear camera: 12MP (ƒ/1.8) | Front camera: 8MP (ƒ/2.0) | Battery life (Hrs:Mins): 11:59
The Pixel 3a strikes a winning blow against the rising cost of smartphones by delivering a terrific camera and a great Android experience in a device that costs hundreds of dollars less. The Pixel 3a uses the same single 12-megapixel camera found on the Pixel 3, but more importantly, it taps into the same AI-powered computational photography features. That means the pictures you snap with your Pixel 3a will be every bit good as what the Pixel 3 delivers — making the Pixel 3a one of the best camera phones around, even though it costs less than half of what most flagships do.
You will have to make some compromises for the Pixel 3a's lower price tag. This phone is made out of plastic, and the processor isn't the fastest. But the Pixel 3a offers solid performance and a long-lasting battery, as it held out for nearly 12 hours on our battery test. The value delivered by the Pixel 3a earns it a spot on this list of the best Android phones, but some may want to wait for the upcoming Google Pixel 4a, which could arrive as soon as next month.
Read our full Pixel 3a review.
6. Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra
An extravagant Android phone
Display: 6.9-inch OLED (3200x1400) | Android version: 10 with OneUI | CPU: Snapdragon 865 | RAM: 12GB, 16GB | Storage / Expandable: 128GB, 512GB / Yes | Rear camera: 108MP wide (ƒ/1.8); 48MP 4x telephoto (ƒ/3.5); 12MP ultrawide (ƒ/2.2); time-of-flight VGA | Front camera: 40MP (ƒ/2.2) | Battery life (Hrs:Mins): 11:58
If money is no object, then the Galaxy S20 Ultra is the phone for you. It's got a massive 108MP main sensor, augmented by three other cameras including a 48MP telephoto capable of a 10x lossless zoom. You can use the S20 Ultra's Space Zoom to zoom in 100x, though, really, without a tripod, your photo will be a shaky mess. Still, these are great lenses on the Galaxy S20 Ultra, and they've only improved since Samsung rolled out a post-release update that corrected the camera's focusing issues.
The cameras highlight the Galaxy S20 Ultra, but they're not the end of the story. The entire Galaxy S20 lineup features displays with 120Hz refresh rates, and that smoother scrolling really shines on the Ultra's 6.9-inch panel. (The feature only works at reduced resolutions, which is a bummer.) You'll get top performance on an Android phone from the Snapdragon 865 chipset inside the S20 Ultra, which also boasts 5G connectivity. And the 5,000-mAh battery makes this phone the longest-lasting Galaxy S20 model.
These features come at a price — a lofty $1,399. For some users, that will prove too much, with the less expensive Galaxy S20 and S20 Plus standing in as more than capable alternatives. But if you don't mind paying top dollar, the Galaxy S20 Ultra provides plenty of bang for all those bucks.
Read our full Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra review.
7. Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Plus
The big phone for stylus lovers
Display: 6.8-inch OLED (3040x1440) | Android version: 10 with OneUI | CPU: Snapdragon 855 | RAM: 12GB | Storage / Expandable: 256GB, 512GB / Yes | Rear camera: 12MP wide (ƒ/1.5, ƒ/2.4); 16MP ultrawide (ƒ/2.2); 12MP telephoto (ƒ/2.1); time-of-flight VGA | Front camera: 10MP (ƒ/2.2) | Battery life (Hrs:Mins): 11:46
How do you make one of the best Android phones for phablet fans even better? Extend the screen so it leaves virtually no bezel, give it a massive battery that recharges faster than ever before and bake in the most powerful processor on the market (with gobs of RAM for good measure).
The 6.8-inch Galaxy Note 10 Plus may share a lot with the Galaxy S10 family on paper, but it feels different to use, thanks to its S Pen stylus which has learned some new capabilities. Using Air Actions, you can make motions with the S Pen in mid air to navigate the phone's interface, and even transcribe and export written notes to Microsoft Word documents and PDFs on the fly.
We do wish the phone's quad-camera system delivered photos that could rival those from Google's latest phones, but even so, the Note 10 Plus is a phenomenally well-rounded Swiss Army knife of a phablet. Just keep in mind we're not that far off from the Galaxy Note 20, which could appear in late August or early September.
Read our full Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Plus review.
8. Google Pixel 4 XL
The smartest camera around
Display: 6.4 inch OLED (3040x1440) | Android version: 10 | CPU: Snapdragon 855 | RAM: 6GB | Storage / Expandable: 64GB, 128GB / Yes | Rear camera: 12MP wide (ƒ/1.78); 16MP ultrawide (ƒ/2.4) | Front camera: 8MP (ƒ/2.0) | Battery life (Hrs:Mins): 9:42
The latest flagship phones from Google continue to stand out, thanks to their cameras. Both the Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL add a telephoto lens to go alongside the main rear camera, delivering a 2x optical zoom. But Google didn't stop with just new hardware — updated camera software lets you tweak brightness and shadows on images, get a live HDR+ preview on your phone's viewfinder and even snap photos of the night sky in an improved Night Sight mode.
Other highlights include a 90 Hz refresh rate that makes for smoother scrolling and better gaming, a new Motion Sense feature for gesture controls and a fast face unlocking. A new Recorder app provides real-time transcription of your audio recordings. Overall, the Pixel 4 XL is the better of Google's two latest phones because of its larger screen and far better battery life.
Read our full Pixel 4 review and Pixel 4 XL review.
9. OnePlus 8
The iPhone 11 of Android phones
Display: 6.55-inch OLED (2400x1080) | Android version: 10 with Oxygen OS | CPU: Snapdragon 865 | RAM: 8GB, 12GB | Storage / Expandable: 128GB, 256GB / No | Rear camera: 48MP wide (ƒ/1.7); 16MP ultrawide (ƒ/2.2); 2MP macro | Front camera: 16MP (ƒ/2.0) | Battery life (Hrs:Mins): 11:04
The OnePlus 8 might not have the wicked-fast wireless charging or 120 Hz animations of its pricier sibling, the OnePlus 8 Pro — though it is a good Android alternative to the iPhone 11, for exactly the same $699 price.
In fact, the OnePlus 8 bests Apple’s hardware in a few areas: Buyers get a generous 128GB of storage out of the box, a higher-resolution 6.55-inch AMOLED display with a 90 Hz refresh rate compared to the iPhone 11’s 60 Hz LCD panel, 5G connectivity and faster wired charging out of the box, thanks to OnePlus’ industry-leading Warp Charge 30T technology.
Mind you, the cameras on the cheaper of OnePlus’ 2020 flagships aren’t as nice as those on Apple’s handset, but if photography isn’t your primary concern, you’ll find a lot to like in OnePlus’ new budget-minded flagship proposition.
Read our full OnePlus 8 review.
10. TCL 10 Pro
An excellent Pixel 3a alternative
Display: 6.47-inch OLED (2340x1080) | Android Version: 10 with TCL UI | CPU: Snapdragon 675 | RAM: 6GB | Storage / Expandable: 128GB / Yes | Rear camera: 64MP wide (ƒ/1.8); 16MP ultrawide (ƒ/2.4); 5MP macro (ƒ/2.2); 2MP low-light (ƒ1.8) | Front camera: 24MP (ƒ/2.2) | Battery life (Hrs:Mins): 10:47
With the TCL 10 Pro, you're not sacrificing all that much to get a premium design, great display and solid performance for just $449. With 128GB of onboard storage as well as a slot for a microSD card, this handset doesn't shortchange you in terms of capacity. Its 4,500-mAh battery also lasts long on a charge, clocking just shy of 11 hours in Tom's Guide's custom battery test.
Unfortunately, the TCL 10 Pro's not-so-great quad-lens rear camera keeps this phone from appearing higher up on our list. Also, while the Snapdragon 675 is quite a capable midrange chip, it takes a step back with respect to graphics performance and gaming when compared with its predecessor. The Pixel 3a and second-generation iPhone SE are admittedly better choices overall for a modest phone within this price range, but the TCL 10 Pro packs a lot of value and compares very favorably against the somewhat disappointing Samsung Galaxy A51, earning it a spot on this rundown of the best Android phones available today.
Read our full TCL 10 Pro review.
How to choose the best Android phone for you
The first place to start when shopping for the best Android phone for you is your budget. And there are essentially a few tiers, The cheapest Android phones cost under $200 and offer mostly the basics for using apps, taking pictures and staying connected.
As you move up to under $400, you'll find some quality handsets, especially when it comes to camera quality. As you go into the $700 and up range, the best phones offer flagship-caliber performance along with cutting edge cameras and special features.
The most premium Android phones offer foldable designs, but in general we don't feel like these types of devices are worth the splurge yet.
How we test smartphones
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 5 to measure overall speed and GFXBench 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.
We use a light meter to ascertain display quality data, like brightness and color accuracy, and our proprietary battery test determines longevity on a charge by continuously loading live webpages over a 4G or 5G network. We set each phone to 150 nits of screen brightness and try to use T-Mobile's network each time in order to achieve comparable results across phones.
Lastly, we explore the software, test gaming performance and conduct live camera comparisons with rival handsets — and each of these factors play a part in our comprehensive verdict.
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