When there are so many options, how do you choose the finest Android phone for your needs? It’s easy to be persuaded by a nice handset design or a low pricing. Carriers may offer you a discount or a 24-month payment plan to entice you. But before you go out and buy something on the spur of the moment, do some research. We’ve culled our favorites from the abyss of phone options, including our top selection, the Google Pixel 5A. Each of the phones we’ve chosen has its own set of benefits, which we’ve laid out as honestly as we can based on our own extensive testing.
First, Some Advice
Buy Your Phone Unlocked
In this article, we recommend unlocked phones. When a phone is advertised as “unlocked,” it suggests it can be used with numerous wireless carriers and networks. When you buy a phone from your wireless carrier directly, it’s usually on a payment plan, and it’s usually bound to that network. Carriers are required by law to unlock a phone upon request so that you can change networks, but it’s a pain. Pay full money for your phone, or make sure it states it’s unlocked on the box. If you think it’s too costly to buy entirely, it’s a good hint you should look for a less expensive model. Buy it directly from the manufacturer, or look into your carrier’s unlocking restrictions if you bought it on a payment plan that requires you to use its network.
Verizon tips: Purchasing an unlocked phone is smart (it is! ), but even if you do so, networks like Verizon will make you jump through hoops. If you enter your SIM card but still can’t get text messages or other services, contact customer support and request that “CDMA-Less roaming” be enabled. This Motorola guide may be of assistance. For other phones, the steps should be similar.
Why we don’t care about 5G: There will be several advertisements enticing you to upgrade to a 5G plan and purchase a 5G phone. Yes, you’ll need a new phone that supports 5G to utilize a 5G network (we have a guide that explains everything), however 5G coverage is still limited at the present. If it’s available in your location, it’s unlikely to be significantly quicker than 4G LTE (yet). Although most new phones, including low-cost models, support some kind of 5G, it is not a compelling reason to upgrade at this time.
Best High-End Phone
Samsung Galaxy S21
The Samsung Galaxy S21 (8/10, WIRED Recommends) costs a few dollars more than our top pick but offers a slew of benefits, including near-flawless performance thanks to the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 chip inside, a slick 120-Hz screen refresh rate, and perks like wireless charging, better video capture performance, and broader 5G support. You also get a slew of cameras to play with, including a 12-megapixel main camera, a 12-megapixel ultrawide camera, and a 64-megapixel zoom, with results that are comparable to those seen on phones like the Google Pixel 5 and the iPhone 12. Because the rear is matte plastic (rather than cheap), you only have to worry about one side shattering if you drop it. Its 6.2-inch screen is just right—not too little or too huge.
Best of all, unlike Google’s Pixel phones, Samsung will provide four years of Android version upgrades and security fixes. Some features that were standard on previous iPhones are missing, such as a MicroSD card slot for expanding the base 128 gigabytes of storage and a power adapter or headphones in the package, as with the current iPhones. The battery life is adequate, lasting approximately a day. Occasionally, the price falls below $700.
