We take a look at a ton of Android telephones. We like those beneath, however you will be higher off with one of many choices above. If you have not but performed so, try our Best Cheap Phones information for extra.
Google Pixel 6A for $349: Google’s persevering with to promote the 2022 Pixel 6A (8/10, WIRED Recommends) at a marked-down value (strive to not pay greater than $300). It’s nonetheless glorious worth and a worthy buy. It’s powered by Google’s first-gen Tensor chip, which suggests you are getting among the greatest efficiency for the cash, and it helps all the identical nice (and useful) software program smarts because the flagship Pixel 6 sequence. It’s obtained an OLED display screen, a good digicam system, and prolonged software program help. There’s no wi-fi charging and it has a 60-Hz display screen.
Google’s Pixel 7 for $449 and Pixel 7 Pro for $649: The 2022 Pixel 7 sequence (8/10, WIRED Recommends) are good buys if yow will discover them at these costs (or decrease). The Pixel 7 provides you virtually all the pieces you’d need, from wi-fi charging to a 90-Hz display screen refresh price. The Pixel 7 Pro is even larger with a 6.7-inch display screen and it has a 120-Hz refresh price. Both function Face Unlock, however this is not safe just like the model on the Pixel 8, so you will need to depend on the fingerprint sensor to entry delicate apps. Cameras are an enormous a part of Pixels, and the Pixel 7 Pro outshines its sibling with an upgraded ultrawide with autofocus, enabling a Macro Focus mode for close-ups. Its telephoto digicam has additionally improved, with glorious 5X optical zoom. These Pixels will obtain 4 extra years of safety updates, which is nice, however solely two extra OS upgrades, which is not so good as the newest fashions.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 for $1,499: The Fold5 (7/10, WIRED Recommends) stays a superb big-screen folding smartphone. The cameras can take some nice images, the shows can get shockingly vibrant, and Samsung guarantees prolonged software program help. But the introduction of the Pixel Fold has proven me how way more I favor the broader entrance display screen. The Fold5’s exterior display screen feels too slim, and a few apps really feel squished (although it is a bit simpler to know when closed). There aren’t too many adjustments from its predecessor, that means it’s nonetheless a good suggestion to purchase the Fold4 at a reduction should you actually need to enter the folding telephone world.
OnePlus 11 5G for $600: This OnePlus 11 (7/10, WIRED Recommends) is often offered at this value, so keep away from the MSRP. It’s a pace demon, however it is not my first alternative of telephone, neither is it my second. It feels tremendously fluid and responsive, because of the top-end Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset inside (and all the opposite optimizations), and it recharges so rapidly with the included adapter and cable—you’ll be able to go from 0 to 100 in roughly 20 minutes. It’s obtained a surprising 120-Hz 6.7-inch AMOLED display screen, good stereo audio system, and a dependable battery that simply lasts greater than a full day. Even the Hasselblad-tuned cameras produce some good outcomes, and OnePlus is now matching Samsung with a promise of 4 years of Android OS upgrades and 5 years of safety updates (although these are bimonthly as a substitute of month-to-month). It’s not all rosy although. There’s no wi-fi charging, no help for millimeter-wave 5G, and the water resistance is barely IP64 when practically each telephone at this value has an IP67 ranking (rated to outlive submersions). The total software program interface additionally is not my favourite. But hey, not less than it is fairly! It works on all three main US networks.
Sony Xperia 1 V for $1,398: Sony’s newest flagship telephone (7/10, WIRED Review) is tremendous costly. But it is one of many few smartphones with a 4K OLED display screen, and it is uncommon to see a high-end telephone with a headphone jack. There are quite a lot of toys for digicam nerds, whether or not you need to seize a photograph with handbook settings or use Sony’s Cinema Pro app to seize cinematic footage. You may even use the telephone as an exterior monitor in your digicam. It’s a disgrace Sony has a brief software program replace coverage, and its digicam system continues to be too clunky.
OnePlus 10 Pro for $450: OnePlus’ 2022 flagship telephone is sweet however not nice (7/10, WIRED Recommends), although it is a sensible purchase at this value. It’s spiffy and has highly effective {hardware}, together with a 120-Hz AMOLED display screen that will get vibrant, speedy efficiency, and among the quickest wired and wi-fi charging you will discover within the US. (Yes, not like the OnePlus 11, the older telephone has wi-fi charging help). It’ll get two extra OS upgrades and three years of safety updates. You ought to know that there is not any millimeter-wave 5G right here, simply sub-6, which is odd for a flagship.
Lenovo AssumePhone by Motorola for $700: This Motorola telephone is a collaboration with Lenovo’s ThinkPad division, maker of the famed enterprise laptops with the little purple nubs. It’s a fairly good telephone all-around (7/10, WIRED Recommends), with options like flagship efficiency, two-day battery life, and an OLED 144-Hz display screen, however it simply does not measure as much as its friends at this value.
Motorola Edge+ 2023 for $800: A Motorola smartphone with contactless cost help, 5G, wi-fi charging, plus a promise of three OS upgrades and 4 years of safety updates? Say it ain’t so! The Motorola Edge+ lastly matches its friends on a number of counts and exceeds them in some methods. It has a vibrant 165-Hz OLED display screen, it is light-weight, and its 5,100-mAh battery simply lasts two days. The draw back? The cameras are not so good as the cheaper Pixel 7A. Read our Best Motorola Phones information for extra picks.
OnePlus Nord N30 5G for $300: This OnePlus telephone (6/10, WIRED Review) does not break the mould, and you must completely pay up for a Pixel 6A or any of the telephones above should you can. But in case your finances is actually tight and this telephone goes on sale, it does the job. Performance is sweet, and there is two-day battery life.