Choosing the best Android phone can feel overwhelming with so many options from so many brands, it’s hard to know where to start. Unlike Apple, which sticks to getting its iPhones for iPhones, Android offers a world of variety. Whether you’re looking for the latest in smarts from Samsung, a smartphone-friendly smartphone from Motorola or something unique with a rolf design, there’s an Android device out there to suit your needs.
The beauty of Android is its flexibility. You’ll find phones with different screen sizes, camera setups, battery life and quirky additions like stylus support or a wet build. Also, Android lets you customize your device to your heart’s content – something apple fans would envy. We’ve tested and researched the top Android phones to help you find the right one for your budget, lifestyle, and tech preferences.
The best Android phones of 2025
Sam Rutherford of Engadget
Read our full Google Pixel 10 Pro and 10 Pro XL XL
The processor: Google Tensor G5 | Show: 6.3-inch super actua, up to 120hz | The measures: REAR FRAY (50MP Wide, 48MP Ultrawide with Macro Focus, 48mp Telephoto Lens), 42MP Camera Pd Pd Selfie Front Camera with autofocus | Battery: 4,870MAH
With the Pixel 10 and Pixel 10 Pro, Google is once again refining its smartphone hardware while pushing its AI-powered software in new and surprising ways. Not only do both devices now support high-resolution full-frame shots, the 100x Pro Res Seroom captures long-distance images in ways that only lenses and megapixels can. Then you add to the best performance, large batteries, bright batteries and the correct charging of QI2 by Magnetic) with pixelsnap by pixelsnap and you have really smart devices that appear to be kind that the dumb can do.
- Long battery life
- Light Reflections
- 100x Pro Res Sonvoom adds great dimension
- Pixelsnap charging (AKA QI2 support)
- Magic Cue is very helpful (when it works)
- No more wireless duplication
- Processing reloaded images is slow
- The Pixel 10 line is Esp only in the US
$990 on Amazon
Sam Rutherford of Engadget
Read our full Google Pixel 9A update
The processor: Google Tensor G4 | Show: 6.3-INCH 1,080 x 2,424 HOLD, up to 120hz | The measures: RAYER ARRAY (48MP wide, 13MP ultrawide), 13MP front camera | Battery: 5,100MAH
The Pixel 9A isn’t too flashy and doesn’t have any special features that aren’t available on its more expensive siblings. In fact, it actually charges less and has lost support for other home screen software like the Screen App. But for everyone who just wants a simple phone with a solid design, great screen, great cameras and solid battery life, the pixel 9A is really hard to beat. So while it’s not pretty, the phone has all of its most important bases covered (and then some). But most importantly, starting at just $499, this phone feels like a great deal that pulls well above its price tag.
- Sleek design
- Amazing battery life
- Great display
- Great cameras
- IP68 rating for dust and water resistance
- Charging can be fast
- No Pixel Screenshot App
- Macro focus mode can be narrow
$450 on Amazon
Photos by Sam Rutherford / Engadget
Read our full Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra Review Review
The processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite | Show: 6.9-inch Dynamic Amoled 2x QHD +, up to 120hz | The measures: RAYER ARRAY (200MP, Dual Pixel, Digital Zoom 100x, 50mp Macro, 50mp UW), 12MP Front Camera | Battery: 5,000mah
The S25 Ultra is the phone it’s made for. It has a wide range of cameras including a 5x phone lens and a new 50-megapixel sensor for its ultra-wide shooter, an excellent 6.9-inch display (which is 0.1 centimeters larger than all) That means, in 2025, Samsung’s main focus was on the Galaxy AI features such as now, which creates feed made for news, events and more. There’s also a drawing assistant that makes it easy to create AI-generated art, or you can turn to AI Select for help by taking screenshots or videos.
Unfortunately, aside from the new Snapdragon 8 chip, the S25 Ultra doesn’t come with a ton of new hardware compared to its predecessor (or the S23U for that matter). So while Samsung’s latest flagship is a great phone, it doesn’t feel like a significant refresh for people whose flagship devices are only a year or two old.
- Excellent screen
- Good performance and battery life
- Anti-Refect Gorilla Armor 2 Panels
- Slimmer bezels
- New 50mp ultra-wide sensor
- The pen is no longer air sperpers
- Same main and telephoto cameras as last year
- It is not fully compatible with Qi2 magnetic accessories
- -Very expensive
$1,093 at Amazon
Sam Rutherford of Engadget
Read our full Samsung Galaxy Z WOLD 7 Review
The processor: Snapdragon 8 Elite | Show: 8-Inich 2184 x 1968QXGA + Dynamic Amoled 2x Full Display, 6.5-INCH 2520 X 1080FHD + Dynamic Amoled 2x Cover Project | The measures: RAYER ARRAY (200MP wide, 12MP eltrawide, 10mpEPOTO telephoto), 10MP front camera | Battery: 4,400mah
One of the biggest problems with a phone that compromises on the extra size and weight that often comes with the inclusion of a flexible display. Samsung has done that thing of the past in the Galaxy Z Fold 7, which sports large screens – inside and out – while being 26 percent smaller than before. And as if that wasn’t enough, the Z Fold 7 also features improved durability, more functionality and a new 200MP camera, the same or better than what you find in traditional smartphones. Main Downsides $2000, is far from cheap and for long time Samsung fans, losing pen support can be a Deal Breaker. But for those who want to experience new heights in foldable phone design, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 is the masterpiece of today’s gadget design.
- Very slim design
- Slekey hinge
- 200MP main camera
- Great shows
- Top tier performance
- It is very expensive
- NO BREAKING OFFER
- Mediocre charging speed
$1,800 on Amazon
Sam Rutherford of Engadget
Read our full OnePlus 13 update
The processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite | Show: 6.8-Inch OLD, 120HZ, 4 500 Nits Max Brightness | The measures: RAYER ARRAY (50MP wide, 50MP eltrawide, 50mp telephoto), 32MP front camera | Battery: 6,000mah
While the OnePlus 13 includes some basic AI features like Google’s circle search and Gemini Assistant, it’s actually a classic flagship in the best ways. That’s because instead of focusing on machine learning, OnePlus packed the phone with tons of top-notch hardware. It sports a 6.8-Inch Oled Display with an incredibly high Peak of 4,500 Nits. The OP13 also offers excellent performance thanks to Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 e-Chip, along with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. There are also three 50-MP rear cameras including one with 3x telephoto zoom and a massive 6,000 MAH battery that’s bigger than what you get in the rest of its range.
OnePlus hasn’t skimped on the phone’s design, as the OP13 comes with the company’s notification shade. Also, if you choose the blue or white variant, you will get a strong and very tactile vegan leather back that helps the phone stand out among all its glass brick handles. But the best part is that starting at $900, it costs less than the Galaxy S25.
- Class-leading battery life
- Bright Light Display
- Good performance
- Attractive design
- Image quality could be better
- Only six years of software support instead of showing them
- Requires a case to fully support Qi2 magnetic accessories
$900 at OnePlus
Other Android Phones We’ve Tested
Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold
While the design and performance of the Galaxy Z Fold 7 is so good that we had to consider it our flagship of this generation, the Pixel 10 Pro Fold is not far behind. Sure, it’s bigger and bigger, but it still has the best cameras of any flagship phone and better software and a bigger battery. But perhaps most importantly, we now have a proper IP68 rating for dust and water resistance – something you won’t find on any of its competitors. This can save the phone from killing early and protect a lot of headache if you often go down the beach or it is too big or anywhere with small particles that can threaten the penetration of your device.
What to look for in a new Android phone
To do
When it comes to picking our favorite android phones, the main things we look for are straightforward: good performance (both cache and AI), solid display, plenty of battery life and a commitment to ongoing software support. In practice, we not only look at benchmarks and other metrics, but also evaluate calls based on feedback. It doesn’t matter if you are reading, texting, scrolling through social media or playing a game, no one wants a gadget that feels lazy.
Show
When it comes to display, we usually choose oled panels that can produce rich colors, filled with at least 600 nits of brightness, although our mid-range pieces and high-end phones can touch numbers of 1,000 or more. And recently, most of our favorite devices also support screens with fast refresh rates of 90hz or 120hz, adding an extra level of smoothness and sharpness.
Wrapping up the plan
Now we will admit that there is a bit of subjectivity when deciding which phones look the best, but there are other design features such as dust and water resistance or the durability of the screen that can make a big difference in long-term survival. It’s also important to look for things like wireless charging support, power sharing (AKA Reverse wireless) and UWB connectivity, which can affect how your phone communicates with your other devices.
The measures
Obviously, for photography we want sharp, colorful shots in both bright and low light conditions. And we’re looking for video clips with a wide dynamic range, rich audio and smooth picture quality. Additional Ultra-Wide-Wide Cameras and Telephoto Lenses are a Plus. The best cameras should include features such as dedicated night modes, support for various video recording resolutions, and additional photo modes such as time lapse, slow motion and more.
Battery and software
Finally, in terms of longevity, we want all-day battery life in devices that deliver the best results in the video video test (at least 16 hours per case, but more is obviously better). Wireless charging capabilities have become almost ubiquitous in the last few years, and most of our top phones have this added perk. Fast charging is available on other Android phones, too. Finally, with people holding on to their phones longer than ever, we’d like to see companies commit to at least three years of software support, upgrades and regular security updates.
