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As 2026 presses onwards, we're seeing new phones arrive to shake up this list of the best Android phones you can buy right now.
While the OnePlus 15 remains our top pick for the best overall Android phone, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra has arrived to take over from its predecessor as the leading Android phone for photography. And the Google Pixel 10a now has our spot as the best budget Android phone.
The best Android phone
The OnePlus 15 is a truly excellent smartphone. It's the first phone to earn a perfect five-star score from TechRadar in years, thanks to its combination of class-leading hardware and a silky-smooth user experience. It's got the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset – the fastest processor you'll find in an Android phone – as well as 12GB of RAM, and an enormous 7,300mAh battery. Those are some game-changing specs, especially when it comes to battery life.
Usually, our in-depth phone reviews note a handful of standout features and use cases for each handset – but the OnePlus 15 is so powerful that it knocks most everything out of the park. Its display? Bright and beautiful, with a refresh rate of up to 165Hz – perfect for gaming. Multitasking? Not a problem, thanks to those high-powered internals. Photography? A trio of solid 50MP cameras have got you covered. And that battery life warrants another mention – our Senior Editor for Mobile Reviews and Buying Guides Philip Berne got 3 days of use on a single charge.
Put simply, the OnePlus 15 is true to its brand name – while most of the best phones push far ahead of expectation, the OnePlus 15 simply goes one step further. It's a brilliant synthesis of design, performance, and imagination, and the best ambassador for Android's mobile experience.
Though the OnePlus 15 does take a small hit to display resolution compared to the previous generation OnePlus 13 and come with a squarer, simpler design that could split opinions, the positives on offer here simply eclipse any potential issues. The OnePlus 15 is the phone to beat for Android lovers, and a likely temptation for even the most ardent iPhone fans.
Read our full OnePlus 15 review
Value | Priced less than competitors’ Pro and Ultra models, with features that blow those flagships out of the water. I wish it were available on a payment plan, but it’s a fantastic value nonetheless. | 5/5 |
Design | A more refined design gives up flashy colors and a ginormous camera bump for extreme durability and classy looks. It’s astonishing OnePlus got so much tech into this phone, especially the huge battery. | 5/5 |
Display | Excellent display is bright and colorful, and capable of extreme gaming performance with the right titles. It can refresh up to 120Hz, or up to 165Hz on select games, and you can really see the difference when you play. | 5/5 |
Software | Smooth and polished version of Android 16 in Oxygen OS, with plenty of useful customization options and features, and just the right touch of AI (that you can also ignore). This phone also has 4 years of updates on the way. | 5/5 |
Cameras | Excellent camera quality beats anything at this price range and aims to be one of the best camera phones you can buy. For action shots and detailed zoom photos, the OnePlus might be the best choice, but all of my pics looked good and there are camera modes I still want to try. | 5/5 |
Performance | Top notch performance makes this phone a benchmark champ, and OnePlus puts all of that power to use in fantastic gaming. Max out the graphics on your favorite title, this phone can defeat whatever monsters you throw its way. | 5/5 |
Battery | Unbelievable battery life thanks to a massive cell hidden inside the svelte design. This phone beats everything by hours and hours - it lasted almost three days in my real world testing. Also it charges super fast, if you ever need to charge it. | 5/5 |
The best Android AI phone
The Google Pixel 10 Pro and Pixel 10 Pro are the best Android phones for AI. As Google's first-party handsets, Pixel phones get new AI and Android features before any other smartphones, and the Pro models are the faster option over the standard Pixel 10. Furthermore, the Pixel 10 Pro and Pixel 10 Pro XL get some exclusive AI features that the regular Pixel 10 doesn't have.
These exclusive features include Call Screening, which automatically checks unknown numbers for spam or scam callers, and Call Notes, which summarises phone calls so you don't forget crucial details. The Pixel 10 Pro and Pixel 10 Pro XL also have Magic Cue, which locally scans your Google-connected apps for information to keep important names, dates, and other points of interest within reach (the base Pixel 10 gets Magic Cue too, though.)
Additionally, the latest Pro Pixels get 16GB of RAM as standard. That should be welcome news for fans of Google Gemini, which is integrated throughout the phone and offers text-based and conversational AI computing.
The Pixel 10 Pro and Pixel 10 Pro XL aren't just great AI phones, they're some of the best phones you can buy. The 6.3-inch (Pro) and 6.8-inch (Pro XL) Super Actua Displays are sharp, bright, and beautiful to look at, while the triple camera system with 5x telephoto camera offers clarity and flexibility while shooting photos and videos.
Read our full Google Pixel 10 Pro review and Google Pixel 10 Pro XL review
Value | A more refined and interesting phone than similar flagships like the iPhone 16 Pro or Galaxy S25 Plus, but there is plenty of scope for Google to offer more (or drop the price for the holidays). | 4/5 |
Design | Excellent design refines the Pixel look even further, with great materials and color options that are classy and durable. No need to change anything here; the Pixel was already a great-looking phone. | 4/5 |
Display | The Pixel 10 Pro’s standout feature. Google’s phone displays are always a knockout, and this screen is brighter and more sharp than any other display I’ve seen (and I’ve seen them all). | 5/5 |
Software | A mix of useful new tools and questionable AI additions. The Pro model is worth the upgrade, thanks to AI features you won’t find on cheaper Pixel phones, but some new features like Magic Cue didn’t work the way Google promised. | 5/5 |
Cameras | Some of the best camera you can buy on a smartphone, with unique AI tools and helpers. The AI goes too far sometimes, but the end results are more impressive than what your friends are shooting. | 5/5 |
Performance | Lackluster performance from the Tensor G5 chip. Most features run fast enough, but I found lag in the camera between shots, and the chipset wasn’t as fast or efficient as any other recent Android flagships. | 3/5 |
Battery | Battery life was fine, but every other Android phone saw major gains with faster chips inside, while the Tensor-powered Pixel was left behind. Pixelsnap and magnetic charging help bridge the gap, and keep the phone charged enough to last you a day. | 3/5 |
The best Android camera
The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is the Android camera phone to beat. Led by its 200MP main sensor with an f/1.4 aperture, it's cameras deliver exceptional detail and impressive low-light performance. Whether you’re after crisp street shots or capturing a dimly lit event, the Galaxy S26 Ultra consistently produces sharp, vivid images.
But like its predecessor, the Galaxy S25 Ultra, it's in versatility that that the Galaxy S26 Ultra's cameras shine. The 50MP 5x telephoto camera captures clear, distant shots up to 10x zoom using sensor cropping, so you can pull in far-away subjects with confidence. The 50MP ultra-wide sensor lets you take expansive landscape or group photos without sacrificing clarity. In side-by-side tests with other flagships, we found that the S26 Ultra’s color accuracy, fine detail, and natural skin tones are the best we’ve seen from any Galaxy phone, rivaling even the iPhone 17 Pro Max.
If you shoot video as much as stills, the S26 Ultra keeps pace with its class-leading photo credentials. You get 8K recording at 30 frames-per-second using the APV codec, so even your videos look cinematic. The Super Steady mode stands out for action shots and dynamic filming, offering horizontal lock and 360-degree rotation stabilization, making it possible to capture smooth footage even during fast-paced movement. During testing, we were able to run alongside a subject and still produce video that looked gimbal-stabilized.
Compared to the OnePlus 15’s trio of 50MP cameras, the S26 Ultra’s 200MP sensor and advanced zoom options deliver superior results, especially when pushing the limits of detail and range. While the Google Pixel 10 Pro and Pro XL shine for AI-powered tricks, Samsung wins on raw camera hardware, especially sensor size and zoom reach.
All that imaging prowess comes with some trade-offs. The S26 Ultra is the obvious choice for buyers who put photography and video above all else, but those looking for the longest battery life, the best value, or a lighter phone might be happier with other options in this guide. For anyone who wants arguably best smartphone camera available right now, the Galaxy S26 Ultra is the clear choice.
Read our full Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra review
Value | Keeping the same price while increasing capabilities, speed, and photo quality is always a good thing. It's a pricey flagship but I think the inclusion of the S Pen makes it a better value than most. | 4.5/5 |
Design | If you liked the design of the last Ultra, you should appreciate this incremental update that slims the phone down, makes it lighter and just a little bit softer around the edges. The new colors are a bonus, too. | 5/5 |
Display | It's a fantastic 6.9-inch AMOLED that makes every image pop. Plus it has that fast and buttery-smooth 120hz refresh rate. The marquee update, though is Privacy Display, a one-of-a-kind innovation that actually does what it promises | 5/5 |
Cameras | While this is essentially the same set of cameras as with the S25 Ultra, Samsung has upgraded the aperture on a couple of key lenses, thereby effectively upgrading light-capturing capabilities and we have a selfie camera that can fit more friends and family in the frame. Photos taken with all the lenses are excellent and Super Steady with horizontal lock is shockingly effective. | 5/5 |
Software and AI | Samsung has stuffed the Galaxy S26 Ultra full of AI possibilities to the extent that the options can be overwhelming. You can use the powerful Gemini, the photo and creativity-enhancing Galaxy AI, the phone system-knowledgeable Bixby, or its new partner Perplexity. Each lets you do many AI-infused wonderful things (though some things don't always work as anticipated). Some consolidation is in order. At least OneUI 8.5 feels more consistent and useful than ever. The Now Brief is a useful widget, but I remain unmoved by Now Nudge and Now Bar. | 4.5/5 |
Performance | The S26 Ultra's Qualcomm Snapdragon Gen 8 Elite 5 for Galaxy is more powerful and efficient than ever. It's hard to find a task it can't handle. | 5/5 |
Battery | Fantastic battery life; days if you keep settings to a mid-range resolution. | 5/5 |
The best Android for everybody
The Google Pixel 10 is the easiest Android phone to recommend to everyday users or newcomers to the Android operating system. It's got a high-resolution 6.3-inch display, a sleek but distinctive design, plenty of helpful AI tools, and a camera system that offers plenty of flexibility with its 5x telephoto lens. It embodies everything good about Android at a reasonable starting price point.
Though the Google Pixel 10 might look nearly identical to last year's Google Pixel 9, the tech giant has made some crucial improvements under the hood. The Google Tensor G5 chipset is the most powerful the company has ever made, and while it's still not quite as blazing-fast as rival chipsets from Qualcomm and Apple, it's more than capable of handling multitasking, gaming, and the various AI tools the phone ships with, such as Google Gemini.
The Pixel 10 is also the first standard Google Pixel phone to come with an telephoto zoom lens, complimenting the main and ultra-wide camera with a 5x optical zoom option. That means the Pixel 10 has more flexibility with its camera system than the iPhone 17 and a longer zoom range than the Samsung Galaxy S25, and as with last year's model, photos and videos look great on the Pixel 10's excellent display.
The Google Pixel 10 ships with Android 16, with 7 years of pledged OS updates. As well as Android 16, the phone comes with a few Pixel-specific features, like Magic Cue, which collects data from your Google-linked apps to put important info at your fingertips.
Read our full Google Pixel 10 review
Value | The Pixel 10 isn’t bad value, but Google has a strong history of discounting its Pixel phone around the US holidays, so maybe wait for the best deal. The Pixel 9 was discounted for half of its first year. | 3/5 |
Design | Not much has changed since the Pixel 9, and that’s a good thing because the Pixel design is stellar. The brighter Indigo and Lemongrass colors are especially appealing. Hidden magnets add weight but not thickness. | 5/5 |
Display | One of the best smartphone displays you’ll see (until you see the Pixel 10 Pro). This screen is very bright and sharp, and a joy to use. Google should brag more about its screens. | 5/5 |
Software | The interface design is crisp and colorful without looking silly, and many of the latest AI features are actually useful without being annoying. Watch out, Apple – Google is delivering on software promises the iPhone couldn’t keep. | 5/5 |
Cameras | The Pixel 10 isn’t the best Pixel camera, but it takes photos that could have come from a Pro model (if you don’t zoom in too close). Camera Coach offers a unique and helpful tool, but I worry it’s putting experts out of work. | 4/5 |
Performance | Not a top performer, though the Pixel 10 does all the Pixel stuff very quickly. The interface and features are super-snappy, but don’t expect to dominate mobile games that require a heavy graphics load. | 3/5 |
Battery | Battery life should be much better – there’s no improvement over the Pixel 9. Thankfully, Pixelsnap (and MagSafe) charging make a big difference and will help you keep this phone powered up all day and then some. | 3/5 |
The best budget Android
As sure as night follows day, Google's Pixel a-series phones have become a fixture when it comes to our choice for the best budget Android phone. Keeping this trend going is the Google Pixel 10a.
The latest budget Pixel phone continues to delivering class-leading phone photography for an attractive price, yet has a few design nips and tucks, such as the camera now sitting flush with the phone's back, to further refine the Pixel offering.
You also get all the expected Google AI features, with a big focus on the use of Gemini as the smart heart of the phone. So despite its non-flagship price, you'll have access to AI tools that can wait on calls for you, transcribe a whole lot of stuff, and a tool that coaches you to take the best photo the cameras can detect.
Solid performance and battery life, along with a very clean take on Android all sweeten the Pixel package.
A lack of big updates over the Pixel 9a means you don't need to rush out and get the 10a if you have the older phone. But for people after a new Android phone at a good price, you don't need to look beyond the Pixel 10a.
Read our full Google Pixel 10a review
Attributes | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
Design | An ergonomic, premium feeling phone with a fully flush design. | 4.5 / 5 |
Display | The 6.3-inch Actua display here definetly punches above the price point, and was great indoors or outdoors. | 4 / 5 |
Camera | It's unchanged, but the 10a still offers a flexible main and ultra-wide camera system. | 4 / 5 |
Software | Out of the box, the 10a provides a simple Android 16 expereince that still puts AI features at the center. | 4 / 5 |
Performance | The Tensor G4 isn't brand new, but you likely won't notice it with daily use. | 4 / 5 |
Battery | No PixelSnap is a dissapoint, but the 10a lasts even longer than the 9a. | 4 / 5 |
Value | With an excellent feature, and the same starting price, the 10a remains one of the best value options. | 5 / 5 |
The best Android folding phone
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 is one of the best folding phones, which means it's also the best Android folding phone. In fact, every folding phone you can buy is also an Android phone, and all of them make use of Google's mobile operating system in unique ways. The Galaxy Z Fold 7 comes loaded with One UI 8, based on Android 16, which means its a great choice for those who want access to the latest and greatest software features.
Of course, the headline feature isn't the operating system, it's that 8-inch folding display. Samsung has made the folding display on the Galaxy Z Fold 7 larger than ever, and with nearly as much screen real estate as an iPad mini there's plenty of room for browsing, productivity, gaming, and whatever else you need to get done. Samsung has jammed the Galaxy Z Fold 7 full of AI tools and software settings, making this a phone that can adapt to the way you do things.
The Galaxy Z Fold 7 has the powerful Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy chipset and either 12GB and 16GB of RAM depending on configuration, giving the phone plenty of power. Our testing found the phone to be an adaptable daily companion with enough battery life to get through a full day's use, which with a battery capacity of just 4,400mAh is pretty impressive.
And when it comes to camera quality, no other folding phone comes close. The Galaxy Z Fold 7 sports a 200MP main camera, 10MP telephoto with 3x optical zoom, and a 12MP ultra-wide. It's the best camera system on any folding phone, and in some situations can hold its own against the dedicated camera phones on this list.
The only real downside to the Galaxy Z Fold 7 is its price. At a starting price of $1,999 / £1,899 / AU$2,899, it's the most expensive phone on the market, period. With the new Samsung Galaxy Trifold – which we estimate will be even more expensive – on the way, some users may want to save for Samsung's new model instead.
Read our full Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 review
Attributes | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
Value | The most expensive foldable out there, but it might also be worth it | 4 / 5 |
Design | Excellent, slim and light design that still feels elegant and solid. | 5 / 5 |
Display | Two fantastic and now larger screens. The crease is almost gone, but so is support for an S Pen. | 4.5 / 5 |
Performance | Better than the best Qualcomm chip on other Androids, and the performance knocked our socks off. | 5 / 5 |
Software | Android 16! One UI 8! So much AI. It may sound like a lot, but it's a winning combination. | 4.5 / 5 |
Cameras | The 200MP sensor is a major upgrade, and overall photography is excellent. We would have liked a 5x optical zoom. | 4.5 / 5 |
Battery | Really good battery life | 4.5 / 5 |
FAQs
What is the best Android phone?
• The Google Pixel 10 is best Android phone for most people
• It has the best AI features at an affordable price
• The OnePlus 13 is the best premium Android phone
Our pick for the best Android phone for most people is the Pixel 10, because it's an affordable way to get all of Google's best new AI features and Google's refined Pixel interface and software.
The best premium Android phone is the OnePlus 15, because it offers the best battery life, the most refined interface, and the most durable design with IP69 certification.
Which Android phone is the best value for money?
• The Google Pixel 10a offers the best value for money
• Pixel a-series phones regularly discounted on Amazon, so look out for deals
• The Samsung Galaxy A-series is also worth considering
The best Android phone for people on a budget is the Pixel 10a, which costs $499 / £499 / AU$849. The Pixel A-series phones are a popular discount item when Amazon puts smartphones on sale, so keep an eye on TechRadar for the latest deals.
If you want to spend less than that, Samsung's Galaxy A phones are great value. They offer great displays and Samsung's feature-packed Android software, plus fast networking and good performance for the price.
Is Android or iOS better?
• Android is more open and customizable than iOS
• iOS has more curated apps and high-end games
• Android offers more options, tools and AI features
Android and Apple's iOS each have their fans, and there is very little that iOS can do that Android cannot. There are many more options, features, and oddities available on Android devices than iOS has ever seen, so Android has a reputation for being more complicated and experimental, while also allowing for more customization and more powerful overall features.
How we test
- Our reviewers thoroughly test new phones, from their day-to-day experience to trying the cameras and all the new features
- We use Future Labs in-house test data and our own experience to assess performance and battery life
- All our reviewers follow reviewing guidelines and processes overseen by experoinced technology journalists
We've only included phones on this list that have been thoroughly tested in Future Labs and in the real world by our expert review editors. We test a whole suite of feature on each phone, then we dive deeper to discover any extra features, as well as get a feel for the phone in everyday use.
Our reviewers test phones rigorously for battery life and charging times, processor speed and performance, and especially for camera and video recording capabilities. We make sure that phones deliver on the promises and claims they make; if Samsung says a phone charges in 30 minutes, we time it to make sure.
Our reviewers has basically seen every major phone you can buy, so know how each model stacks up against one another. We regularly use both iPhones and Android handsets at the same time so can compare features and hardware.
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