The Best Android Phones of 2025

One of the great things about Android phones is how many models there are to choose from. That can also be overwhelming, though, as it can be hard to find the right one. We’re here to help!

UPDATE: 02/27/2025

We’ve updated our buying guide with many of the latest and greatest Android phones available. Take a look!

How to Shop For an Android Phone in 2025

There are a lot of things to consider when buying a new phone. If you’re here, you’re already considering Android, so that’s one big decision out of the way. Android devices offer more flexibility than iPhones (with Apple’s closed ecosystem), and there are many more phones to choose from.

We’ll be throwing a lot of technical jargon at you in this list, including specs like processors, RAM, megapixels, refresh rates, and more. The good news is you don’t necessarily need to worry about all the tech specifications. There’s not one single “spec” that makes or breaks a phone—it’s more about the complete package, and the additional specifications are nice bonuses.

How Did We Research
Models Evaluated	Hours Researched	Reviews Analyzed
19	9	25

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It’s no surprise the Samsung Galaxy S25 overtakes the Galaxy S24 as the best Android overall, given its improvements in the most important areas, like more RAM and a more powerful chipset.

The Samsung Galaxy S25 is equipped with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite, along with 12GB of RAM. In practice, that’s a stellar setup for its AI features, general use, and even gaming. You can run games like Genshin Impact at its highest settings and clock at 60 FPS.

As for battery life, the Samsung Galaxy S25 doesn’t see a massive improvement, given that it still has a 4000 mAh battery, but it still lasts longer than the S24 by a small amount. What’s important here is that you’re getting a better, more efficient chipset that doesn’t hamper the battery. Also, for those looking to have a powerful phone on the smaller side, the S25 will be one of your best options, as we say in our review.

It still has the same 6.2-inch AMOLED 120Hz display as the previous generation and utilizes Gorilla Glass Victus 2 for protection against drops and scratches. It has a lightweight but strong aluminum frame coupled with IP68 protection.

Budget phones have come a long way. Even just 10 years ago, they were best avoided in many cases, but now they’re often as feature-packed as their flagship cousins, with just a few minor cuts to save money. With its sharp display and features like Dolby Atmos sound, the Motorola Moto G Play (2024) is a perfect example of a great Android phone that just happens to cost less.

On the hardware front, the Moto G Play is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 640 4G mobile chipset, which uses a Kryo GPU. This, combined with the 4GB of RAM (6GB with the RAM Boost feature) and 64GB of storage, means that while it isn’t the speediest on the market, it’s far from slow.

The display uses a 6.5-inch panel with a resolution of 1600×720 for a relatively sharp pixel density of 269ppi. It is protected by Gorilla Glass 3, which means it should be relatively scratch-resistant. Motorola also claims the Moto G Play is water-resistant but doesn’t list an IP rating, so you should be careful to keep it as dry as possible.

Battery life shouldn’t be much of a worry thanks to the 5,000mAh battery, which Motorola claims can give you up to 46 hours of juice. When it comes time to top up, the phone is 15W charging capable, so you shouldn’t need to wait long to charge.

With the release of the Google Pixel 9 Series, the 8 Series is now more affordable, and one of the best deals for an Android phone is the Google Pixel 8a. It’s a mid-range option that should appeal to anyone looking for high-end features at a more affordable price.

The phone sports the classic Pixel look, and the sturdy aluminum frame and Gorilla Glass 3 give it a robust quality. It also has IP67 dust and water resistance, meaning it’s fully dustproof, and drops in the bath or pool will not cause any damage.

With its 6.1-inch screen, it’s not too big like some flagship phones, and it’s not so compact that it’s easy to lose or uncomfortable to grip. The OLED display has a fluid 120Hz refresh rate, and the Full HD+ resolution gives images a sharp and detailed look. However, it’s not the best phone to use outdoors in strong sunshine. You might still struggle to see the display when the brightness is turned up fully. In dimmer outdoor conditions and when viewing indoors, images are as vibrant and vivid as you would expect.

The Tensor G3 processor is efficient and gives the phone excellent AI capabilities. It may not match that of the G4 found in the newer 9 Series, but it still boasts effective machine learning that makes it a better choice than most other mid-range options. This solid performance is backed by 8GB of RAM and 128 or 256GB of internal storage.

For smartphone photographers, the Pixel 8a shines in camera quality. It features a 64MP primary and a 13MP ultra-wide that utilizes robust software processing for superior images. It also sports a fast autofocus and optical image stabilization (OIS) for excellent low-light performance. Additionally, there’s a 13MP selfie camera, and you can shoot high-quality 4K video at up to 60fps. You can also shoot in Full HD at up to 240fps, which means you can record rather fetching slow-motion movies.

Battery life is good, with Google claiming the 4,492mAh capacity can last up to 24 hours. This may be a bold claim, but you should get at least a full day with typical usage. The wired 18W charging is also reasonably fast, but the 7.5W wireless charging, while convenient, might be a little on the slow side.

If you don’t like leaving features on the cutting room floor, as is the case with the Samsung Galaxy S25, then the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra will be the bump up you’re looking for.

Now, as far as the chipset is concerned, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra uses the same Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite as the S25, along with 12GB of RAM. With that chipset, no activity is beyond your reach, from streaming to gaming (at high settings, too). More importantly, it keeps the QHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X display running nice and smooth at 120Hz.

One notable improvement the S25 Ultra has over the S25 is its battery life. It isn’t life-changing, but the jump from 4000mAh to a 5000mAh battery grants an extra two hours of battery life, which is fantastic considering the phone uses a much more powerful chipset than the S24.

As for IP grade protection, the S25 and S25 Ultra both share the same IP68 rating against water and dust—in fact, the phones can both withstand 1.5 meters of water for 30 minutes. However, the S25 Ultra has a titanium frame and Gorilla Glass Armor 2, which is stronger against drops and scratches than the aluminum frame of the S25.

The S25 can’t hold a candle to the S25 Ultra’s cameras, though. The ultra-wide, wide-angle, and telephoto cameras are bumped up to 50MP, 200MP, and 50/10MP from 12MP, 50MP, and 10MP, respectively. It’s a massive difference in photo quality, especially if you want to capture as much detail as possible.

The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra’s chipset—the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite—is great for gaming, so it’s no surprise the ASUS ROG 9 Phone also makes excellent use of it, along with 12GB of RAM to support it. If you opt for the Pro model, you can bump that up to 16GB or 24GB of RAM!

However, the biggest difference is that the ASUS ROG 9 Phone is designed with gaming in mind, with features such as a stellar cooling system. By using a rapid-cooling conductor and larger graphite sheet, it’s not going to grow too hot in your hands. It funnels it out, even when you’re pushing it to its limits.

The AMOLED display runs at a buttery-smooth 185Hz refresh rate, but it does adapt accordingly to prevent your battery from taking a massive hit. Luckily, you’re working with a 5800mAh battery, which has 65W Hyper charging to get you back in the game (or charge as you play).

The Pixel 9 Series is out, and while the baseline 9 has a good camera setup, those who are more serious about their smartphone photography will want to go for the Google Pixel 9 Pro. This phone has the same specs as the Pixel 8 Pro, but image quality has improved, and, like it or not, there are massive AI upgrades. The Pixel 9 Pro XL is also available. It offers the same camera setup and specs as the 9 Pro but with a larger 6.8-inch display and a better battery capacity. Whether you want the bigger phone or the less expensive one is ultimately up to you!

The 50MP primary lens features an f/1.68 aperture. Both phones also have a 48MP f/1.7 ultra-wide lens and a 48MP f/2.8 5x telephoto lens, which Google has omitted from the baseline 9. Selfie lovers are also catered for with a much improved 42MP front camera. Images in low light are of high quality, especially when you utilize the Night Sight feature, and its advanced AI processing adds to this. Furthermore, the 9 Pro features efficient OIS, and knowledgeable shutterbugs can use its manual controls.

Some other AI features smartphone photographers can experiment with include the Add Me feature, which allows you to replace anyone in a photo with an image of yourself. You don’t need to waste time composing images with self-timers or risk asking a stranger to photograph you. Panorama Mode is also significantly improved, with valuable pointers helping you line up and stitch sweeping shots together.

Videographers can also enjoy some upgrades. There’s more of a choice of frame rate when shooting in 4K (24/30/60fps), and you also have the option of shooting in 8K (30fps). Furthermore, the Video Boost feature improves movie quality by using Night Sight to provide a wider dynamic range.

If you prioritize high-resolution video, you might want to consider the storage space. Options range from a standard 128GB up to 1TB. However, there is no SD card slot to expand this further. Battery life is another consideration for photographers and videographers, especially when capturing high-resolution images. The Pixel 9 Pro sports a 4,700mAh capacity, and the good news is that it beats any previous Pixel phone by a country mile. If you need even more power, the Pixel 9 Pro XL features a 5,060mAh battery for even longer shoots.

Best Android Phone for Battery Life: OnePlus 13

To avoid the sudden race to a nearby outlet, the OnePlus 13 can work nearly all day on its 6000mAh battery, but its real magic trick is how it manages to do that.

The OnePlus 13 doesn’t use a budget or even a mid-range chipset. It utilizes the same powerful and efficient Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, the same one used in the ASUS ROG 9 Phone and, more importantly, Samsung’s top-of-the-line Galaxy S25 Ultra.

To keep everything snappy, the OnePlus 13 has more than just a 6000mAh battery. By opting for the lightweight OxygenOS, starting up apps, switching between them, and even editing feels snappier and more responsive than ever. It’s an OS that works to the phone’s benefit and ultimately helps it reach that long-lasting charge. And when you need to juice it again, it can charge nearly 100% in 30 minutes.

The battery life comes in handy not just for gaming, which it can totally do thanks to its chipset, but also for shooting videos and photos. The OnePlus 13 is no slouch in that department, either. Its telephoto and ultra-wide cameras are both 50MP, while the front-facing one is 32MP, which is nearly three times the megapixels than the S25 Ultra’s 12MP selfie camera.

FAQ

How do you unlock an Android phone?

Unlocking an Android phone so it can be used with other carriers is not a simple process. Consider contacting your carrier about whether or not it’s possible for your specific model.

How do you find a lost Android phone?

There are several ways to track and find an Android phone, including the use of software from Google or Samsung. Check out our full guide for more details.

Should I buy an Android phone or an iPhone?

Both types of phones are incredibly popular. iPhones tend to be more streamlined, while Android phones offer more customization options. You’ll also find more Android phones to choose from, as they’re produced by several companies (such as Google, Samsung, and ASUS) whereas iPhones are only made by Apple.

Can you use an Apple Watch with an Android phone?

You can technically use an Apple Watch with Android, but you’ll need an iPhone to finish the setup phase. You’ll also miss out on a ton of features that are exclusive to iPhone. In other words, it’s not recommended.

Is an Android phone good for gaming?

Yes. Your mileage will vary based on the exact phone you’re using, but Android devices are typically great for gaming due to their customizable and open-source nature. Along with games on the Play Store, you’ll also be able to run emulators and access cloud streaming services.

How long will an Android phone last before I need to replace it?

There’s no correct answer to this question, as it depends on your phone and how well you treat it. You can typically expect to go around two years before considering an upgrade, though its possible to go beyond five years if you pick a premium phone and take proper care of it.