The perfect Android telephones for 2025

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Selecting the perfect Android telephone can really feel overwhelming as there are such a lot of choices from so many manufacturers, it’s arduous to know the place to begin. Not like Apple, which sticks to its glossy lineup of iPhones, Android affords a world of selection. Whether or not you are eyeing the newest flagship from Samsung, a budget-friendly smartphone from Motorola or one thing distinctive with a foldable design, there’s an Android system on the market to fit your wants.The fantastic thing about Android is its flexibility. You’ll discover telephones with completely different display screen sizes, digital camera setups, battery life and even quirky extras like stylus help or rugged builds. Plus, Android helps you to customise your system to your coronary heart’s content material – one thing Apple followers may envy. We’ve examined and researched the highest Android telephones that can assist you discover the fitting one to your price range, life-style, and tech preferences.Finest Android telephones for 2025GoogleRead our full Google Pixel 9 Professional and Pixel 9 Professional XL evaluation Processor: Google Tensor G4 | Show: 6.3-inch Tremendous Actua, as much as 120Hz | Cameras: Rear array (50MP extensive, 48MP ultrawide with Macro Focus, 48MP 5x telephoto lens), 42MP twin PD selfie entrance digital camera with autofocus | Battery: 4,700mAh Lastly, a smaller Pixel Professional. Google’s Pixel collection has lengthy been probably the greatest Android telephones round, with the Professional mannequin being the superior model. Nevertheless it was all the time a bit too massive and too cumbersome for these of us who’ve smaller palms or need our telephones to slot in our pockets. Cue the Pixel 9 Professional, which is the littler model of the Pixel 9 Professional XL. As an alternative of a comparatively massive 6.8-inch display screen like that on its greater sibling, the usual Professional has a 6.3-inch show that’s straightforward to maneuver. No extra worrying about dropping your Pixel Professional simply since you fumbled whereas making an attempt to succeed in the highest of the display screen! Higher but, with the Pixel 9 Professional, Google hasn’t sacrificed any key characteristic to get to the smaller dimension, which means you may discover the identical digital camera setup and efficiency in each handsets. The one actual variations are the display screen dimension, battery and charging speeds, because the non-XL mannequin recharges at a barely slower fee. However the Pixel 9 Professional can be a lot longer-lasting than the XL, notching nearly 25 hours on our battery check. These distinctions apart, the Pixel 9 Professional lineup is our favourite Android telephone due to its top-notch digital camera efficiency, intriguing AI options and a common grown-up vibe. Whereas earlier Pixel flagships had a colourful, blocky design that felt recent, this yr’s gadgets really feel stable and refined. And, dare we are saying it, nearly like iPhones. With out the digital camera bars, they might be fairly arduous to inform aside from Apple’s telephones. Probably as a result of it is grown up a lot over time, however the Pixel telephones now price the identical as iPhones. The Pixel 9 Professional and iPhone 15 Professional each begin at $999, and although a few of us have come to think about Google’s handsets because the extra competitively priced possibility, this yr’s mannequin could be adequate to justify a premium worth. When you nonetheless need one thing from the Pixel 9 household however do not wish to pay $1,000, the bottom Pixel 9 remains to be a stable handset for most individuals. However because it stands, the Pixel 9 Professional is the perfect Android handset cash can purchase. — Cherlynn Low, Deputy Editor ProsGreat digital camera options and improved telephoto cameraA yr of Gemini Superior for freeIncredible battery lifeA stunning, shiny display screen that’s straightforward to make use of outdoorsTensor G4 runs cooler than its predecessorConsSlower charging speeds than the XLNot the perfect telephone for gaming$999 at GoogleSam Rutherford for EngadgetRead our full Google Pixel 9a evaluation Processor: Google Tensor G4 | Show: 6.3-inch 1,080 x 2,424 pOLED, as much as 120Hz | Cameras: Rear array (48MP extensive, 13MP ultrawide), 13MP entrance digital camera | Battery: 5,100mAh The Pixel 9a is not particularly flashy and it does not have any particular options that are not already accessible on its costlier siblings. The truth is, it really has slower charging and it is lacking help for a few of Google’s homegrown software program just like the Screenshots app. However for everybody who simply desires a easy telephone with a stable design, a pleasant display screen, wonderful cameras and robust battery life, the Pixel 9a is basically arduous to beat. So whereas it isn’t tremendous fancy, the telephone has all of its most necessary bases lined (after which some). However most significantly, beginning at simply $499, this telephone looks like an unbelievable deal that punches properly above its worth. — Sam Rutherford, Senior Reporter ProsSleek designAwesome battery lifeNice displayGreat camerasIP68 ranking for mud and water resistanceConsCharging may very well be fasterNo Pixel Screenshot appMacro Focus mode generally is a bit finicky$488 at AmazonPhoto by Sam Rutherford / EngadgetRead our full Samsung Galaxy S25 Extremely evaluation Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite | Show: 6.9-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2x QHD+, as much as 120Hz | Cameras: Rear array (200MP, Twin Pixel AF, Digital Zoom 100x, 50MP Macro, 50MP UW), 12MP entrance digital camera | Battery: 5,000mAh The S25 Extremely is a do-anything telephone. It has a variety of cameras together with a 5x telephoto lens and a brand new 50-megapixel sensor for its ultra-wide shooter, a stunning 6.9-inch AMOLED show (which is 0.1 inches greater than final yr) and naturally, Samsung’s signature S Pen. That stated, for 2025, Samsung’s essential focus was on its improved Galaxy AI options akin to Now Temporary, which creates a customized feed of stories, occasions and extra. There’s additionally Drawing Help that makes it simpler to create AI-generated artwork, or you may flip to AI Choose for assist with taking screenshots, turning movies into GIFs or summarizing tales. Sadly, except for a brand new Snapdragon 8 Elite chip, the S25 Extremely doesn’t include a ton of recent {hardware} in comparison with its predecessor (or the S23U for that matter). So whereas Samsung’s newest flagship is a superb telephone, it doesn’t really feel like a necessary improve for individuals with flagship gadgets which might be solely a yr or two previous. — S.R. ProsExcellent screenGreat efficiency and battery lifeAnti-reflective Gorilla Armor 2 panelsSlimmer bezelsNew 50MP ultra-wide sensorConsS Pen now not suppers Air actionsSame essential and telephoto cameras as final yearNot absolutely appropriate with magnetic Qi2 accessoriesExpensive$1,106 at AmazonSam Rutherford for EngadgetRead our full Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 evaluation Processor: Snapdragon 8 Elite | Show: 8-inch 2184 x 1968QXGA+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X full show, 6.5-inch 2520 x 1080FHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X cowl show | Cameras: Rear array (200MP extensive, 12MP ultrawide, 10MP telephoto), 10MP entrance digital camera | Battery: 4,400mAh One of many greatest points with foldable telephones is the added dimension and weight that always comes with the inclusion of a versatile show. Samsung has made {that a} factor of the previous on the Galaxy Z Fold 7, which sports activities bigger screens — each in and out — whereas being 26 % thinner than earlier than. And as if that wasn’t sufficient, the Z Fold 7 additionally options improved sturdiness, elevated efficiency and a brand new 200MP essential digital camera, matching or exceeding what you get from conventional flagship smartphones. The primary downsides are that at $2,000, it is nonetheless removed from reasonably priced and for long-time Samsung followers, the lack of S Pen help could also be a dealbreaker. However for many who wish to expertise new heights in foldable telephone design, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 is a masterpiece of contemporary gadget design. — S.R. ProsExquisitely skinny designSleeker hingeBig 200MP essential cameraLarger displaysTop-tier performanceConsVery expensiveNo S Pen supportMediocre charging speeds$2,000 at AmazonSam Rutherford for EngadgetRead our full OnePlus 13 evaluation Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite | Show: 6.8-inch OLED, 120Hz, 4,500 nits max brightness | Cameras: Rear array (50MP extensive, 50MP ultrawide, 50MP telephoto), 32MP entrance digital camera | Battery: 6,000mAh Whereas the OnePlus 13 options some fundamental AI options like Google’s Circle to Search and Gemini assistant, it’s actually simply an old style flagship in all the perfect methods. That’s as a result of as a substitute of specializing in machine studying, OnePlus crammed the telephone with tons of top-notch {hardware}. It sports activities a 6.8-inch OLED show with an unbelievable peak brightness of as much as 4,500 nits. The OP13 additionally affords wonderful efficiency because of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite chip, together with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. There are additionally three 50-MP rear cameras together with one with a 3x telephoto zoom and an enormous 6,000 mAh battery that’s greater than what you get in virtually all of its rivals. OnePlus didn’t skimp on the telephone’s design both, because the OP13 nonetheless comes with the corporate’s signature Alert Slider. Plus, should you go for the blue or white variants, you’ll get a sturdy and really touchable vegan leather-based again that helps the telephone stand out amongst all its glass brick rivals. However the perfect half is that beginning at $900, it prices lower than an equal Galaxy S25+ too. ProsClass-leading battery lifeSuper-bright displayGreat performanceAttractive designConsPhoto high quality may very well be a contact betterOnly six years of software program help as a substitute of sevenNeeds a case to completely help magnetic Qi2 equipment$900 at OnePlusWhat to search for in a brand new Android phonePerformanceWhen it involves selecting our favourite Android telephones, the principle issues we search for are fairly simple: good efficiency (each compute and AI), a pleasant show, stable design, sharp cameras, lengthy battery life and a big dedication to ongoing software program help. For efficiency, not solely can we have a look at benchmarks and different metrics, however we additionally consider telephones primarily based on responsiveness. No matter whether or not you’re studying, textual content messaging, scrolling by way of social media or enjoying a sport, nobody desires a gadget that feels sluggish.DisplayWhen it involves shows, we typically choose OLED panels that may produce wealthy, saturated colours with at the least 600 nits of brightness, although a lot of our prime mid-range and high-end telephones can hit 1,000 nits or extra. And extra just lately, most of our favourite gadgets additionally help screens with quick refresh charges of 90Hz or 120Hz, which provides an additional degree of smoothness and fluidity.DesignNow we are going to admit there’s a little bit of subjectivity when deciding which telephones look the perfect, however there are different design facets like mud and water resistance or display screen sturdiness that may make a giant distinction to long-term survival. It’s additionally necessary to think about issues like help for wi-fi charging, energy sharing (aka reverse wi-fi charging) and UWB connectivity, which may have an effect on how your telephone interacts together with your different gadgets.CamerasObviously, for images we’re searching for sharp, colourful pictures in each shiny and low-light circumstances. And we wish video clips with excessive dynamic vary, wealthy audio and clean picture stabilization. Further cameras for ultra-wide and telephoto lenses are a plus. The perfect cameras must also embody options like devoted evening modes, help for varied video recording resolutions, and extra picture modes like timelapse, gradual movement and extra.Battery and softwareFinally, by way of longevity, we’re searching for all-day battery life on gadgets that additionally delivered nice outcomes on our native video rundown check (at the least 16 hours on a cost, however extra is clearly higher). Wi-fi charging capabilities have turn out to be nearly ubiquitous over the previous few years, and most of our prime picks have this additional perk. Quick-charging is offered on some Android telephones, too. Lastly, with individuals holding onto their telephones longer than ever, we prefer to see corporations decide to at the least three years of software program help, upgrades and common safety updates.

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