The world of Android smartphones is big, rich in variety, and open to almost any budget out there. From basic, dependable smartphones, to cutting-edge devices of the future, anyone looking for the best Android smartphones is spoiled for choice.
Which is the best Android smartphone available in 2024, though? Is it the obvious choice, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra? Or maybe the new Pixel 9 series devices have something to offer that's not immediately obvious? There might be a dark horse somewhere on the Android plains, offering an amazing bang for your buck.
We made a comprehensive list to help you find the best Android phone for your specific needs. We have a very thorough testing procedure in place, and our phone rating widget takes into account various aspects of the smartphone experience, so rest assured that this list is as objective as it gets.
But fret not, under each entry, we will elaborate on the score and explain why you should consider that particular model, which are its strong and weak sides, and what are the alternatives. But first, here's how these scores are calculated.
Quad-curved display might not be everyone's cup of tea
Limited availability
8.1
PhoneArena Rating
7.4
Price Class Average
Battery Life
9.4
7.5
Photo Quality
7.1
7.3
Video Quality
6.1
6.4
Charging
8.3
6.9
Performance Peak
7.4
6.9
Performance Daily
7.6
7.4
Display Quality
9
8.2
Design
8
7.8
Wireless Charging
8.5
6.6
Biometrics
8
7.5
Audio
9
7.9
Software
8
7.7
Why the score?
This device scores 8.6% better than the average for this price class, which includes devices like the Sony Xperia 1 VI, Xiaomi 14 Ultra and OPPO Find X7 Ultra
Honor continues to perfect its Magic lineup of flagship phones, and the Magic 6 Pro is the final result (for now) of this refinement process. It's a great Android phone, up there with the Galaxy S24 Ultra. Actually, some might argue that the Magic 6 Pro is better in some aspects than the S24 Ultra, and our final score kind of adds points to that case. It has a bigger battery (a second generation lithium-silicone one), a brighter screen, faster charging, and more base storage.
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There's also the very good camera system, consisting of a 50MP main camera with variable aperture, a 50MP ultrawide, and a stunning 180MP telephoto camera. You can check out our Galaxy S24 Ultra vs Honor Magic 6 Pro comparison for more detail, but both phones are neck-in-neck. We were pleasantly surprised by how good the photos taken with the Magic 6 Pro looked.
There's also a Porsche Design RSR version of the Magic 6 Pro, so if you want a sprinkle of luxury, plus a new nitride coating and some titanium, you should definitely check that one out too.
Some people might not like the quad-curved display and prefer a flat one, and Honor's own AI thing, the Magic Portal, is still in development. But in our display tests the Honor Magic 6 Pro shone with many nits and also displayed colors very accurately. In the end, this phone is a great flagship, and a legitimate alternative to the Galaxy S24 Ultra. As for alternatives, in addition to the aforementioned Galaxy S24 Ultra, you can check out the Xiaomi 14 Ultra, and the OnePlus 12, both of which offer similar specs with some tiny differences here and there.
The Honor Magic 6 Pro is currently the best Android phone on the market, ideal for smartphone enthusiasts who don't hesitate to go out of their way and try new things. It can be your camera phone, and also a potent gaming device with its ample chipset and long-lasting battery, which ranked near the top of our flagship battery life list. Bear in mind that the Magic 7 series announcement draws near, so we probably gonna get another entry on this list pretty soon.
Screen has great brightness range, reduced reflections
What we don't like
No improvement in charging speeds
Pricey, if you don't catch a deal
7.7
PhoneArena Rating
7.4
Price Class Average
Battery Life
7.6
7.3
Photo Quality
7.8
7.1
Video Quality
6.9
6.4
Charging
6.8
6.1
Performance Peak
7.2
6.7
Performance Daily
7.5
7.5
Display Quality
9
8.2
Design
8
8.2
Wireless Charging
6.4
6.6
Biometrics
8
7.8
Audio
8
8
Software
8
8
Why the score?
This device scores 3.9% better than the average for this price class, which includes devices like the Honor Magic6 RSR Porsche Design, Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max and Sony Xperia 1 V
The year 2024 came with a bang and a brand new Galaxy Ultra model. Now, you might think that innovation in smartphones has been pretty stale in the past couple of years, but the Galaxy S24 Ultra proves otherwise. This flagship comes with a revised flat display that is very bright, and has a new anti-glare coating that works wonders. Seriously, we've tested this one time and again, and the difference is mind blowing. Once you've tried this tech, there's no going back.
Then you have the usual last-gen Snapdragon processor, optimized for Galaxy, and during our tests, the phone scored near the top of the benchmark sheets with little to no excessive heat. The S Pen adds some great features as well. The Galaxy S24 Ultra topped our camera ratings, and for good reason. It's a blend of hardware and software, and speaking of software, AI on smartphones is the rage nowadays, and the Galaxy AI is indeed present on the Galaxy S24 Ultra to serve you better than ever.
All the other parts of the equation are pretty much left intact, but the overall package is great. The Galaxy S24 Ultra is currently one of the best phones you can get, second only to the Honor Magic 6 Pro. Some would even argue that the Galaxy phone is better, thanks to its stylus and flat display, but no matter which one of these two you choose, you won't be disappointed. If you're looking for the most recent Android phone, though - the Galaxy S25 series is right around the corner and for sure the Ultra will find a place on this list.
The Galaxy S24 Ultra is for practically everyone, but it's especially suited for people who use their phone for work and productivity, thanks to the S Pen, and all the multitasking capabilities of this beast. If you want to learn more, check out our full Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra review.
Just four years of software support, less than Google & Samsung
7.5
PhoneArena Rating
7.1
Price Class Average
Battery Life
8.4
7.3
Photo Quality
7.1
7
Video Quality
6.1
6.2
Charging
8.7
6.1
Performance Peak
7.2
6
Performance Daily
7.6
6.7
Display Quality
8
7.9
Design
9
7.6
Wireless Charging
8.4
7.3
Biometrics
7
7.5
Audio
7
7.2
Software
6
8.3
Why the score?
This device scores 5.3% better than the average for this price class, which includes devices like the Motorola razr (2024), Google Pixel 9 and Apple iPhone 16 Plus
The OnePlus 12 follows up a change of course for OnePlus, started with the OnePlus 11. You will notice that, in 2024, there's still no "Pro and non-Pro"—there's only the OnePlus 12. The company stated that this is "the Pro." It just decided to not dilute its lineup by launching more than one device at the moment. We have a different approach with the OnePlus 12R, but we'll stay away from the naming scheme for now and focus on the flagship device.
So, the OnePlus 12 has the fast Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, upgrades to its Hasselblad-branded camera, and the same excellent design and snappy feel as before. The display is super-bright and the charging speed is out of this world (there's also a charging brick in the retail box!). The OnePlus 12 also managed to sneak into the top 10 smartphones in the past 2 years when it comes to battery life, ranking in 7th place with a battery estimate of 8h 23m. The OnePlus 12 is not only one of the best Android phones for the money, but just "one of the best." Full stop.
The OnePlus 12 currently finds itself in the top 3 spot on our list, and if you want alternatives, you can of course grab the stylus-equipped Galaxy S24 Ultra, or get yourself some Honor magic from the Magic 6 Pro. You can go down the software AI route and opt for a Pixel 9 Pro, or if you like foldable smartphones, there are options there as well.
In general, it's an excellent phone hard to beat at the MSRP (there are great OnePlus 12 deals as well), and you can read more about it and see camera samples in our OnePlus 12 review. OnePlus phones have always been suited for people who like to go against the grain and get the best bang for the buck while still maintaining flagship specs. Bear in mind that the OnePlus 13 already launched in China and we're waiting a global release in the coming month, so we're getting a new addition here - the next model is shaping out to be a real beast.
Key OnePlus 12 specs:
Display: 6.82-inch AMOLED, 1440 x 3168 pixels, 120Hz refresh rate
Well-calibrated display with great outdoor visibility
What we don't like
Availability
Natural HyperТone colors may not appeal to the mass user
7.5
PhoneArena Rating
7.4
Price Class Average
Battery Life
7.5
7.7
Photo Quality
7.6
7.1
Video Quality
6.1
6.2
Charging
9.1
7.2
Performance Peak
7.2
7
Performance Daily
7.4
7.4
Display Quality
9
8.3
Design
8
7.7
Wireless Charging
8.3
6.9
Biometrics
7
7.7
Audio
7
7.8
Software
6
7.7
Why the score?
This device scores 1.3% better than the average for this price class, which includes devices like the Honor Magic 6 Pro, Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro and Samsung Galaxy S24+
Sometimes you need two periscope zoom cameras on a phone! For these rare occasions the Oppo Find X7 Ultra is the perfect phone. But all jokes aside, this is a true Android flagship that can take on the Galaxy S24 Ultra and the other Far East competitors with ease.
There's a lot to like about the Oppo Find X7 Ultra, from the record-breaking display to the latest and greatest Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset coupled with 16GB of RAM. The phone also looks really good with its metal and leather back.
The battery inside is a hefty 5,000mAh cell, and the charging is one of the fastest out there with 100W of wired power, delivered to the phone. When you factor in the powerful camera system, the Oppo Find X7 Ultra more than earns its place in the top 10 Android phones. The only downside is that its availability, especially in the US, is questionable. There are alternatives that are more mainstream but none of those feature two periscope cameras, so there's that, too.
Check out our full Oppo Find X7 Ultra review and take a look at those camera samples! This phone is no doubt geared toward photography enthusiasts and can do wonders in manual shooting mode.
Key Oppo Find X7 Ultra specs
Quad Main Camera 50MP system with 1-inch wide and two periscope zoom cameras
Snapdragon 8 Gen 3
16GB of RAM and 1TB of storage
5,000mAh battery
100W fast wired charging
Google Pixel 9 Pro XL
Google Pixel 9 Pro XL
7.5
PhoneArena Rating
7.2
Price Class Average
Battery Life
7.8
7.1
Photo Quality
7.8
7
Video Quality
6.6
6.3
Charging
6.1
6.2
Performance Peak
5.8
6.4
Performance Daily
7.1
7.5
Display Quality
8
7.9
Design
8
7.5
Wireless Charging
6.9
6.7
Biometrics
8
7.5
Audio
8
7.4
Software
10
8.2
Why the score?
This device scores 4% better than the average for this price class, which includes devices like the Asus Zenfone 11 Ultra, Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 and Motorola razr Plus (2024)
As far as new Android phones are concerned, the recent Pixels are fresh out of the hardware oven. The Pixel 9 Pro XL introduces a fresh design, a more powerful chip, faster charging capabilities, and several new AI features. However, at first glance, it may not seem like a significant leap forward from the Pixel 8 Pro, especially given its higher price point.
However, the smartphone game these days is played on the software field, and the Pixel 9 Pro XL has a lot to offer. The camera system includes enhanced computational photography capabilities, leveraging AI to deliver even more stunning photos in various lighting conditions. There are new AI tricks onboard thanks to Gemini Nano, and Gemini Live, and last but not least, you're getting seven years of software updates.
When it comes to software tricks and AI, the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL is your best bet. If you like to be on the forefront of AI and don't mind sacrificing some raw power in exchange, this flagship will serve you well for the (seven) years to come.
This list wouldn't have been complete without the Xiaomi 14 Ultra. After years of depriving the world of the "Ultra" treatment and launching those models in China, the company finally decided to go global with the best it can offer. So, the Xiaomi 14 Ultra is available globally, starting at 1,499 euros. Here's what you're getting for that kind of money.
The main feature of this phone is the camera system, of course. It's so important that Xiaomi included a camera grip accessory that is sold separately. Under the hood, there are four 50MP sensors; two of them are on telephoto duty under a regular 3.2x lens, and a periscope 5x one. The main sensor is a big 1-incher, and even the ultrawide camera is making use of the same megapixel count. The Xiaomi 14 Ultra currently sits at the top of our Camera Score!
So, we have another camera phone here, and Xiaomi even showcased a prototype with interchangeable Leica M-series objective lenses. Of course, being a flagship, this phone relies on the latest Qualcomm silicon, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, coupled with an ample amount of RAM. And finally, the battery is a hefty 5,000mAh cell, supporting 90W wired and 80W wireless charging. Yes, you read that correctly, 80W wireless!
We're now on the verge of the Xiaomi 15 series global launch (the series already debuted in China), so we're pretty excited by the upcoming flagships and there will be some shuffling of the rankings on this list, so stay tuned.
This device scores 6.9% better than the average for this price class, which includes devices like the Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold, Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Google Pixel Fold
Even though we have a dedicated best foldable phones article, the Vivo X Fold 3 Pro is so good that it sneaked its way into the best Android phones. Normally, when we talk about foldable phones, there are compromises and sacrifices to be made. Not in the case of the Vivo X Fold 3 Pro!
This thin and lightweight foldable comes with the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, and also features a hefty 5,700mAh battery, one of the biggest on a foldable device! There's 100W fast charging support, and a decent camera system onboard.
The only downside is that the Vivo X Fold 3 Pro is not widely available, and not available at all in the US. It offers a great package for a foldable, but if you want to check out some more mainstream alternatives, you should turn your techy eyes toward the Galaxy Z Fold 6, the upcoming Honor Magic V3, as well as the Xiaomi Mix Fold 4. The age of the foldables is coming.
If you want to be on the absolute edge when it comes to smartphone innovations, the Vivo X Fold 3 Pro can get you there. Granted, it's hard to get and costs a lot of money, but these phones set the trend that more popular models such as the Z Fold series, for example, follow in a year of two. So, get the future while it's still hot!
Key Vivo X Fold 3 Pro specs
Thin and lightweight design
8-inch main screen, 6.5-inch covers screen, both LTPO
This device scores 4.1% worse than the average for this price class, which includes devices like the Huawei Pura 70 Ultra, Xiaomi 14 Ultra and Honor Magic 6 Pro
Sony decided to make a sharp turn with the Xperia 1 VI. Until this model came along, the company was known for its 21:9 tall and narrow phones, something that was a staple in the Android community. The Xperia 1 VI is a departure from that aspect ratio, and it also comes with a screen downgrade, no more 4K resolution on Sony flagship phones, it's just FHD+.
With all that being said, Sony did many things right with the Xperia 1 IV. First, the display is one of the brightest in the industry, and now it's a true LTPO panel, capable of going from 1 to 120Hz with everything in between. Second, the camera app has been redesigned, and now it's friendlier than ever.
This doesn't mean that you can't get professional and tweak all the settings manually, there's still a Pro mode. The performance is great thanks to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, no more thermal throttling, and no dropped frames.
The case of the Xperia 1 VI is a strange one. This model has lost some of its Sony uniqueness, but at the same time, it has become much more competitive, despite its (still quite high) price. Sony afficionados might be a little angry that the Japanese company has dropped the 21:9 ratio and the 4K screen, but if that's the price for having Xperia phones in 2024, we will be paying it gladly.
For the hardcore Xperia fans, there's still the Xperia 1 V, featuring the aforementioned 21:9 aspect ratio and a gorgeous 4K screen, so if you want to own a piece of (lost) history, you can get one of those. You can also check out our Xperia 1 V vs Xperia 1 VI comparison if you have trouble choosing between the two, and of course check out the full Xperia 1 VI review for a deep dive.
Key Sony Xperia 1 VI specs
Bright 6.5-inch, 19.5:9 LTPO 1-120Hz screen
Snapdragon 8 Gen 3
New simplified Camera app
Double action shutter button
5,000mAh battery
ROG Phone 8 Pro
Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro
What we like
New design, thin bezels, IP68
Speakers are loud and meaty (but not as good as before)
Fast and buttery performance
What we don't like
Speakers are no longer front-firing
Gripping the device for gaming is a bit less comfy (lack of bezels)
The camera is OK, but not as great as the big bump suggests
7.1
PhoneArena Rating
7.4
Price Class Average
Battery Life
8.6
7.6
Photo Quality
5.6
7.1
Video Quality
5.1
6.3
Charging
8.2
7
Performance Peak
8.2
6.8
Performance Daily
8
7.3
Display Quality
8
8.3
Design
8
7.6
Wireless Charging
3.7
6.9
Biometrics
7
7.6
Audio
8
7.9
Software
4
8
Why the score?
This device scores 4.1% worse than the average for this price class, which includes devices like the Honor Magic 6 Pro, OPPO Find X7 Ultra and Google Pixel 8 Pro
It's unsurprising that a gaming phone found its way into our top 10 list. Asus is a well-known player on the gaming smartphone scene, and the ROG Phone 8 Pro is the latest model in a long-running bloodline. Part of the reason why this phone ended up among the best Android phones is that Asus decided to make it a little more accessible to non-gamers.
There are still a lot of gaming bells and whistles onboard, but they are hidden under a modern and understated design. The phone features thin bezels, a very good screen, and a decent camera system for a gaming phone.
The performance is top-notch, as is to be expected from a dedicated gaming phone, and the stereo speakers are just out of this world. You're buying a Bluetooth-speaker-worthy phone, when it comes to audio. This thing comes with crazy RAM configuration options (up to 24GB), and up to 1TB of storage.
The Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro isn't cheap, even by modern standards. $1,500 for a smartphone is a lot, but you're getting something quite unique, and if you enjoy popping heads in Call of Duty, this machine will level up your game! For more details, check out our full Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro review.
Key Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro specs
Gaming-focused with capacitive triggers, LED lights
Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, no thermal throttling
New design
Great loudspeakers
24GB of RAM
5,500mAh battery
Motorola Edge 50 Ultra
Motorola Edge 50 Ultra
7.1
PhoneArena Rating
7.4
Price Class Average
Battery Life
7.1
7.1
Photo Quality
7.1
7.3
Video Quality
5.2
6.2
Charging
9.1
7.4
Performance Peak
6.1
6.5
Performance Daily
7.5
7.2
Display Quality
8
8
Design
8
7.7
Wireless Charging
8.4
7.8
Biometrics
7
7.3
Audio
8
7.3
Software
5
7.5
Why the score?
This device scores 4.1% worse than the average for this price class, which includes devices like the Xiaomi 14T Pro, OnePlus 12 and Sony Xperia 5 V
The Edge 50 Ultra is Motorola's new flagship for 2024, and it definitely grabs attention with cool features like an optional wooden back and super-fast 125-watt charging—something you won’t get with a Galaxy or iPhone. It's refreshing to find a Motorola phone among the best Android phones right now, and there's a good reason for this.
The phone features some unique characteristics that you can't find anywhere else, or at least not on your mainstream flagship phone. For starters, it comes with a 144Hz refresh rate on its 6.7-inch OLED screen, which is also very bright (one of the brightest we've ever tested). The processor inside is the newest Snapdragon 8s Gen 3, and don't let that little "s" bother you, it's still a great performer.
The camera system is very potent, with a lot of megapixels onboard. There's a 50MP, f/1.6 aperture, optically stabilized main camera, a 50MP, f/2.0 ultrawide camera with autofocus, and a 64MP, 3X Zoom, f/2.4 dedicated telephoto camera. The selfie camera is also 50MP.
When it comes to bang for your buck, the Motorola Edge 50 Ultra is almost unbeatable. You can get a OnePlus 12 for less, but you'll miss some of the unique features, such as the wooden back, and the fastest charging in the industry. Check out our Motorola Edge 50 Ultra review for a deep dive.
Key Motorola Edge 50 Ultra specs
6.7-inch OLED screen, 144Hz refresh rate
Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 chipset
50/50/64MP triple camera system
4,500 mAh battery
125W wired charging
How we test phones
The most important metric here is the phone rating. This composite score takes into account 12 different aspects of the smartphone experience, such as Battery Life, Photo Quality, Design, Performance, etc. The ratings are on a scale from 0 to 10, and the weight of each category in the final score is different, for example, battery life is more important than design, and so on.
There's also a metric called "Price Class Average" which takes into account the price of devices with similar specs, positioned in the same market space. This gives you a quick comparison of how a specific model compares to the average in its class, and gives more context to the score. Bear in mind that you won't find a lot of 9s and 10s on this list. We completely overhauled our rating system to be future proof and also be able to detect subtle differences and segregate phone models better.
Currently, the best Android smartphones hover around the 7.5 mark, which gives enough space for future models to evolve and get better. If you want to delve deeper into the ratings, there are sub-categories such as our Battery Score, and our Camera Score both of which go into more detail and break the score into even finer segments.
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Mariyan, a tech enthusiast with a background in Nuclear Physics and Journalism, brings a unique perspective to PhoneArena. His childhood curiosity for gadgets evolved into a professional passion for technology, leading him to the role of Editor-in-Chief at PCWorld Bulgaria before joining PhoneArena. Mariyan's interests range from mainstream Android and iPhone debates to fringe technologies like graphene batteries and nanotechnology. Off-duty, he enjoys playing his electric guitar, practicing Japanese, and revisiting his love for video games and Haruki Murakami's works.
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