The best Android phones aren’t just for ultra-modern techies. Android phones have the best cameras, the best displays, and the most advanced wireless connections ever seen in a smartphone.
If you want the latest technology, whether it’s the largest camera sensor, foldable glass design or artificial intelligence-enhanced software, you need to buy an Android phone. This means that Android users tend to be on top.
1. Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra
The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra aims to be the ultimate Android phone — or at least the ultimate Samsung phone — and it succeeds on both fronts, building on the best of the impressive Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra and Samsung Galaxy Note.
Of course, we’ve got the wraps up and our Galaxy S23 Ultra review is underway. It’s not a huge upgrade over the S22 Ultra, but the differences might be significant enough to earn it the top spot on our list.
The Galaxy S22 Ultra has what we call a zoom that “makes everything we’ve seen from our phone’s camera disappear” thanks to 10x optical zoom and up to 100x digital zoom — and it actually offers usable record of.
Another highlight is the S Pen stylus, which comes bundled with this model and, like the Galaxy Note, has its own slot. This is a useful feature to increase productivity and creativity.
2. Google Pixel 7 Pro
The Google Pixel 7 Pro makes it easy to take great photos, day or night, but it also takes the photo experience further than ever before — it actually makes the photos we take with older phones look better. Currently, you can only do this with phones that support Tensor G2, such as the Pixel 7 Pro. In fact, the Pixel 7 Pro can do things that the competition hasn’t even tried.
The Pixel 7 Pro hears better — literally. It recognizes speech more accurately and makes Google Assistant more useful. Not only does it make photos better, but it also makes photos clearer and fuller by enhancing skin tones using Real Tone technology. This will make the phone sound better in no time.
We wish the battery life was more impressive, and the macro focus mode wasn’t as magical as many of Google Photos’ other features. This phone makes some amazing promises, even if it doesn’t deliver on all of them.
3. Samsung Galaxy A53
We prioritize our budgets, and the Galaxy A53 has them all. It has a huge camera array and four different lenses, giving you tons of options. It has a great screen, solid battery life, and is waterproof. For the price, what you get is truly remarkable.
The screen on the Galaxy A53 is attractive, with the same resolution and refresh rate as the S22. Size aside, most people probably won’t see much difference between the budget phone’s display and the S22’s.
The phone has some impressive photo capabilities. It features a 64 MP f/1.8 main camera, a 12 MP f/2.2 ultra-wide-angle lens, a 5 MP f/2.4 macro lens, and a 5 MP f/2.4 depth sensor. There are more expensive phones with fewer camera options.
4. Google Pixel 7
Like the Pixel 7 Pro, the Pixel 7 features Google’s latest Tensor G2 chipset, which, along with Google’s own version of Android 13, provides a satisfying user experience while making everyday tasks a lot easier.
The Pixel 7’s design feels divisive, but thoughtful and premium. The cameras are housed in an attractive aluminum strap, which helps the phone stand out from the crowd, especially at its price point, and the smaller 6.3-inch display size and thinner bezels (compared to the Pixel 6) means the Pixel 7 is more comfortable to hold and pocket than before.
The biggest flaws are most evident in areas where the design lags behind the Pixel 7 Pro, with a slower display and lack of a telephoto zoom lens.
Still, the user experience is great, the AI assistance features are unique and effective, and the promise of more features via an upcoming “feature drop” means this Pixel will likely only get better over time.
5. One plus 11
The OnePlus 11 is a return to the greatness of OnePlus phones. When you buy OnePlus, you’re getting flagship-level performance and specs at an affordable price. Instead of offering a more expensive Pro model, this year’s OnePlus 11 gets the best parts for less than the Galaxy S23 or iPhone 14.
The camera is not very versatile. You don’t have a telephoto zoom. Instead, you get portrait photos that are more artistic than clinical. Instead of close-up macros or space zooms, you can capture warm and inviting photos of your food. It’s not for everyone, but photography enthusiasts might appreciate this unique offering.
Unfortunately, while the OnePlus 10 Pro is waterproof (at least if you bought it from T-Mobile), the OnePlus 11 is less durable and can only withstand water jets. If you submerge in water, you will sink. For cautious fans of the brand, this is a well-deserved phone.
6. Samsung Galaxy S22
The Samsung Galaxy S22 isn’t a massive improvement over the Samsung Galaxy S21 — so it might not be worth the upgrade if you have one, but it’s still a great phone in its own right. It’s especially good for fans of compact phones, as it has a 6.1-inch screen, small bezels, and a slim body that’s definitely small by modern Android phone standards.
It’s also a great-looking phone, and it’s significantly cheaper than the rest of the Galaxy S22 lineup, or many other high-end phones. Despite its flagship-level power, when benchmarking the Galaxy S22 against the larger S22 Ultra, we found their Geekbench scores to be comparable. So the Samsung Galaxy S22 won’t hold you back.
Conclusion
It’s up to each individual to decide whether they prefer iOS or Android. Finding a device with the features (and at a price) that you’re happy with might be made easier with Android thanks to the considerably greater number of phones and brands available. iPhones integrate seamlessly with Apple’s other goods and services, and iOS offers a more consistent user experience across phones.
