The Best Android Phones in 2024: A Comprehensive Review
As a smartphone reviewer, I spend an unhealthy amount of time testing apps, making phone calls, and snapping way too many food photos with the latest phones on the market. I am basically best friends with my SIM card ejector — and I say that proudly.
That’s also to say, among all the options from Android makers like Samsung, Google, and OnePlus, I’ve developed a good sense of which ones are truly worth your hard-earned money. That includes buying advice for phones that are hot off the press and how they fare against the competition.
Also: The best iPhone models you can buy right now
What is the best Android phone right now?
I thoroughly test every Android phone that makes its way onto my desk, spending at least two weeks with each device before deciding whether or not it fits within ZDNET’s buying guide. My pick for the best Android phone overall is the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, which features the company’s flagship features and specifications, including an S Pen stylus for precision inputs, a 200MP camera system, and the most durable display on any Galaxy phone yet.
Read on for the rest of my top picks for the best Android phones you can buy today.
Best Android phones in 2024
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Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
Best Android phone overall
Samsung’s new Galaxy S24 line is the first to go all-in on AI, and the S24 Ultra, the most premium of the three, is the best Android phone today. The new Galaxy AI model embedded in the device brings a host of generative capabilities, including real-time phone call translations, the ability to circle an object on screen to perform an image-based Google search, AI-assisted photo editing and transcriptions, and even a Chat Assist feature for figuring out how to phrase a message in different tones.
Like its predecessor, the S23 Ultra, the S24 Ultra is built with a large 6.8-inch AMOLED display and a reliable 5,000mAh battery. Though the price has gone up to $1,299 ($100 more than the S23 Ultra), the phone’s upgrades make it well worth it: The S24 Ultra is made of a lightweight yet durable titanium frame, compared to last year’s aluminum, and features Corning’s latest Gorilla Armor.
Review: Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
The difference in display protection means the S24 Ultra is more glare-free than ever, which ZDNET reviewer Jason Hiner suggested: “makes its screen more enjoyable to use than the iPhone 15 Pro Max and other flagship phones.” Reddit users seem to agree with Hiner, including one who said he believes “the anti-reflective glass really makes a difference.”
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