Best Android Phones 2024: Flagships to budget options tested and ranked

If you’re shopping for an Android phone right now, the Pixel 8 Pro is our current favourite pick. It’s not better in all respects than the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, however it does come in at £250/$300 less and packs a lot of clever software features our reviewer actually used.

As with any Pixel phone, the 8 Pro is mostly about two things – the Google software and the camera. The cameras remain fairly similar to what we saw on the Pixel 7 Pro, but refreshed tech brings improved performance to all three of the rear lenses. There are software tweaks too, including a bunch of updated modes – including a clever Best Take option that replaces funny/awkward faces with smilier alternatives  – you’ll actually want to use.

Photos from the phone are great in practically any scenario. They are richer and more immersive than those from the Galaxy S24 series and often better in darker situations too, despite the much higher megapixel count on offer from the S24 Ultra in particular. The zoom might not match up to Samsung’s Ultra efforts, but if you keep to around 5x the results are great.

Powering the phone is Google’s Tensor G3 chipset, though like previous entries, it’s not the quickest around – many phones on this list will post better benchmark scores – with the focus being instead on AI intelligence. There are many software additions here that are made better by this chip, including voice transcription, and everything works very well.

Samsung has started to claw back some of that interest with Galaxy AI on the S24 series, but there’s still more to take advantage of with the Pixel 8 Pro than the S24. Whether that’ll be the same in a year’s time, however, is yet to be seen.

The phone impresses elsewhere too. The screen is on par with high-end options from Apple and Samsung, although battery life is starting to lag behind the competition. The Pixel 8 Pro also benefits from Google’s upgraded long-term support, boasting a whopping 7 OS upgrades that’ll take it all the way through to Android 21.

Reviewer: Max Parker
Full review: Google Pixel 8 Pro Review

If you’re looking for the very best big-screen experience possible, look no further than Samsung’s top-end Galaxy S24 Ultra. It’s the option to choose if you want a really high-end, luxury experience that does it all – and are happy to pay for the privilege.

The S23 Ultra may not look all that different from 2023’s S23 Ultra, but small key differences vastly change the experience. That includes a shift from aluminium to titanium for the chassis, much slimmer bezels for a true all-screen look and, of course, the move from a curve display to a flat one – a change that’ll benefit S Pen users in partoiucalr, allowing you to make the most out of the 6.82-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X screen.

That screen is one of the main reasons to opt for the Ultra, and it’s packed with premium bells and whistles with its WQHD+ resolution, dynamic 120Hz refresh rate and support for HDR10+ and Dolby Vision delivering a stunning viewing experience whether you’re scrolling through TikTok or watching the latest Hollywood blockbuster on Netflix

It’s not just simply a big phone though; the S24 Ultra stands out in the camera department, particularly when it comes to zoom prowess. It’s a title that Samsung continues to hold with the S24 Ultra despite an apparent downgrade from a 10x periscope to a 5x periscope, but the inclusion of a higher-res sensor and OIS mean that performance is near-identical at the 10x level whilst vastly boosting the 5-10x mark compared to the previous gen phone.

That’s backed up by a 200MP primary camera that delivers vibrant, detailed and well balanced images regardless of light levels, and also allows for a dedicated astrophotography mode. There’s also a 12MP ultrawide and 10MP 3x telephoto rounding out the rear camera system, making it a versatile system indeed.

The S24 Ultra stands out in another way, however; Galaxy AI. While it’s not quite as well-rounded as the Pixel 8 Pro offering, elements like rewriting text, transcribing and translating recordings and limited photo editing features hint that Google’s time as the top AI phone could be running out.

That’s down to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy, a custom version of the 2024 chipset that delivers top-end performance and the ability to process generative AI tasks all on-device with no need for an internet connection.

Throw in all-day battery life with a 5,000mAh battery, seven years of OS upgrades taking it through to Android 21 and solid software from OneUI 6.1 and you’ve got a tempting – if not pricey and large – smartphone.

Reviewer: Lewis Painter
Full review: Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra Review

The S23 Ultra may be the very best handset in Samsung’s locker, but it’s far from the only one in there vying for your attention; the standard Galaxy S23 is also a standout smartphone with a more compact design than many competing flagships.

Compared to the bulky S23 Ultra, the Galaxy S23 is much smaller and easier to manage. That is largely down to the use of a smaller 6.1in display, but it’s still very much top-end with a dynamic AMOLED 2x 120Hz panel that delivers crisp, bright and vibrant visuals, and it’s perfectly serviceable for watching YouTube videos and TikTok. Besides, those that demand a larger screen could always opt for the near-identical (but larger) Galaxy S23 Plus.

Elsewhere, it boasts top-end performance via the exclusive Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy exclusive to the S23 range, a versatile camera system consisting of a wide, ultrawide and 3x telephoto lens, and it fixes one of the biggest issues with its predecessor; battery life.

Despite having a smaller battery than much of the competition, the improved energy efficiency of the Galaxy S23 means it’s a comfortable all-day device, still managing to reach the end of the day with 30-40% charge on most days.

Of course, it doesn’t have the big 200MP camera upgrade of the S23 Ultra, images can look a little over-saturated and charging is pretty slow at just 25W, so it’s far from perfect, but it’s an excellent compact handset that you should seriously consider.

Reviewer: Lewis Painter
Full review: Samsung Galaxy S23 Review

The Pixel 7a is a compact Android phone with an excellent camera, Google’s fantastic software and a price tag that won’t break the bank. It’s one of our favourite Android phones on the market right now.

Despite its more affordable price tag, it matches many of the essential features of the more expensive Pixel 7 and boasts several advantages over the Pixel 6a. Among these advantages are Qi wireless charging, 8GB of memory, a faster 90Hz screen (compared to the Pixel 6a’s 60Hz), and a more robust body.

The Pixel 7a also has an impressive camera with a new 64MP sensor that produces excellent images in various lighting conditions and accurately captures skin tones. At this price, there isn’t a better phone included on this list

While the 6.1-inch 90Hz OLED screen on the Pixel 7a is comparable to the slightly larger Pixel 7’s 6.3-inch display, the Pixel 7 Pro has the best screen among the Pixel phones.

The Pixel 7a is powered by the same Tensor G2 chip found in the Pixel 7, Pixel 7 Pro, and Pixel Fold. This offers adequate performance for the price point and handles many of the phone’s AI features such as call screening and voice recording.

However, the Pixel 7a’s battery life is mediocre, and charging can be slow. Though the phone can typically last a day, users may need to recharge quickly on busy days with heavy screen usage – something our reviewer had to do on a few occasions. It can also take over 100 minutes for a full charge and you’ll need to provide your own charger.

Reviewer: Max Parker
Full review: Google Pixel 7a Review

After years of Samsung dominating the clamshell foldable market with its Galaxy Z Flip range, Motorola has knocked Samsung off its perch with the Razr 40 Ultra.

The Razr 40 Ultra takes the clamshell experience to new heights with its large 3.6-inch pOLED exterior display, featuring a super-smooth 144Hz refresh rate.

This generous display size allows not only the use of widgets like the Oppo Find N2 Flip, but also full Android apps. You can control smart home technology, respond to messages, and even get directions from Google Maps without having to unfold the phone. This not only reduces the need to open the device frequently but also makes it comfortable to use in its folded form.

However, you won’t always rely on the external display, especially with the presence of a tall, narrow 6.9-inch pOLED display inside. This screen is incredibly smooth at 165Hz and incorporates LTPO technology, intelligently adapting the refresh rate based on your activities.

While the main 12MP camera may not sound overly impressive on paper, its combination of optical image stabilization (OIS), phase-detection autofocus (PDAF), and a wide f/1.5 aperture allows it to excel in both well-lit and low-light environments. Although it doesn’t quite match the quality of top-end flagship cameras, it’s impressive for a slimline foldable device.

Powering the phone is the ageing Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 processor, which may deter some users. Nevertheless, everyday performance is solid, though it tends to overheat during graphics-intensive gaming sessions.

With a 3,800mAh battery, the Razr 40 Ultra offers an improvement over the Razr (2022)’s 3,500mAh cell. It’s capable of lasting the entire day, although it might not make it through the second day. The good news is that it charges in less than an hour thanks to the inclusion of 30W fast charging technology.

Reviewer: Lewis Painter
Full review: Motorola Razr 40 Ultra Review

If you want an excellent and very affordable Android phone, the Motorola Edge 40 Neo is a strong pick and one of the best cheap phones around, offering an incredible amount of tech considering its £299 RRP.

We particularly liked the display, which uses the same pOLED tech as the top-end Razr 40 Ultra above. It measures in at 6.5 inches, has a smooth 144Hz refresh rate that’s faster than many flagships and great vibrancy that makes this display entrancing whether you’re watching films or playing games.

Speaking of, gaming is an area where the Edge 40 Neo does surprisingly well considering the price tag, utilising the Dimensity 7030 along with a healthy 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage to deliver solid gameplay. It won’t compete with high-end gaming phones, but it’ll power most games at medium graphics settings.

Motorola has also focused on camera tech, sporting a 50MP main camera that performed surprisingly well during testing, largely thanks to the likes of PDAF autofocus, OIS support and a larger sensor than the outgoing Edge 30 Neo that delivered impressive results both in well-lit and low-light scenarios.

It’s also just simply a good-looking smartphone with a variety of Pantone-certified colour options, a vegan leather finish and slim dimensions at just 7.76mm thick and 172g. Seriously, if you’re on a tight budget, you’ll struggle to find a more well-rounded offering.

Reviewer: Lewis Painter
Full review: Motorola Edge 40 Neo review

The Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro Edition is not the most rounded Android phone on this list, but it excels at its main point of interest: gaming. 

There are oodles of gaming-centric features here, from the AirTriggers that allow for gamepad-esque controls to the Armoury Crate software that enables you to fiddle with the performance settings and display frame rate, temperature and GPU workload figures as you play your favourite mobile games. 

Thanks to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip and a whopping 24GB of RAM, this is one of the most powerful Android phones you can buy, beating even the S24 Ultra in benchmark tests. The superb cooling system also allows the phone to maintain high performance over long stretches of heavy workloads, with our benchmark tests showing consistent gaming performance.

The 5500mAh battery may be smaller than last year’s 6000mAh cell, but our reviewer noted that it still allowed the ROG Phone 8 Pro Edition to last well over a day from normal use.

That’s all well and good, but plenty of gaming phones offer similar performance-focused features. Where the ROG Phone 8 Pro Edition stands out is in the design department by, well, not looking like a gaming phone at all.

Instead, the phone looks not too dissimilar from your regular flagship smartphone with a glass and matte frosted finish on the rear, slimmed down bezels and even the inclusion of a new 3x telephoto camera to bolster the rear camera setup. If you’re sick of the typical gamer aesthetic but still want a high-end gaming experience, the ROG Phone 8 Pro Edition is a solid choice.  

The only major stumbling block for this phone is that it’s incredibly expensive, requiring a sum beyond the £1000/$1000 mark. As a result, it may be worth sacrificing a couple of features and opting for either the older Asus ROG Phone 7 Pro or the regular ROG Phone 8 instead.

Reviewer: Ryan Jones
Full review: Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro Edition review

If you’ve been looking for a handset that’s slightly smaller than the others on this list – one that you could even use with just one hand, for instance – then you can’t do much better than the excellent Asus Zenfone 10.

The smartphone measures in at a compact 5.9 inches, but don’t let that fool you; this is very much a premium device. From the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 that allows it to compete with much more premium options, to the 50MP main shooter with unique six-axis gimbal stabilisation that allows for blur-free photos and super-smooth videos, the ZenFone 10 is a capable option.

It also delivers some of the best OS customisation we’ve seen, with the option to pick and choose between Asus’ ZenUI and stock Android 13, and there are plenty of handy tweaks available too. It’s just a shame that it only offers two OS upgrades alongside its four years of security patches.

Still, if you find that your hands aren’t quite big enough to wield some of the cumbersome phablets that have been mentioned above, then the 5.9-inch screen on this device could suit you right down to the ground.

Reviewer: Lewis Painter
Full review: Asus Zenfone 10 review