Amongst the very best smartphones of the year, you'll find that Android smartphones are a consistent frontrunner of the year. Samsung, Google Pixel, HONOR, Huawei, and more - unlike Apple's particularly brand-exclusive operating system, Android phones come in all shapes and sizes, and most importantly - prices.
Ranging from top-tier flagship phones with seemingly limitless processing power to shockingly brilliant telescopic cameras that'll pick up an incredible amount of detail from far away - Android phones are far and beyond the most versatile and varied smartphones on the market.
The best Android smartphones of 2024 at a glance:
• Best Android smartphone: Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra - View at Amazon
• Best value Android smartphone: Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 - View at Amazon
• Best gaming Android smartphone: ASUS ROG Phone 7 Gaming Phone - View at OnBuy
But with almost too many choices, it can be more than a little difficult to determine what smartphone is truly best for you. Budget, power, style - find a phone that has all the tech specs you've dreamed of, 5G, a cutting-edge Snapdragon chipset, OLED screens and 120Hz refresh rates, all without spending too much money in the process.
Snag yourself a cracking phone for under £300, or finally purchase that mighty tablet-esque smartphone that you've been dreaming of, there's plenty of choice for you and your needs.
Best Android smartphones of 2024
All prices are correct at the time of writing. Prices, stock and deals are subject to change without notice.
Best Android smartphone
A serious list-topper this year, the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is an excellent Android phone, and it's not difficult to see why.
Equipped with a gargantuan 6.8-inch screen, the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, and a staggering 200MP quad camera, the S23 Ultra is a powerhouse of a phone, there's no denying it.
Out of the gate, this monstrous smartphone is just plain brilliant - casual browsing and gaming feel fresh and ultra-responsive thanks to its 120Hz refresh rate - the S23 Ultra is one of the most premium smartphone experiences we've ever had.
The main attraction of the S23 Ultra, however, is far and beyond its impeccable camera, with some of the greatest zooming capabilities on a smartphone ever. Take pictures from afar without a trace of blur and truly capture those once-in-a-lifetime moments that never seem to look right with a standard phone.
There's no doubt that the Samsung S23 Ultra has taken the top spot for great smartphone for photography this year, and with a plethora of mindblowing hardware, there's no doubt that it'll ace anything else you can throw at it too.
Pros
- A brilliantly large and vibrant screen brings your photos and videos to life
- The stunning 200MP wide camera plus telephoto lens gives you lots of options for your photos
- The Snapdragon processor is perfect for mobile gaming performance
Cons
- Those who like to travel light may find it a little large at 6.8 inches
Best value Android smartphone
The Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 5G is a consistent list-topper as one of the best phones under £200 this year. Offering a gorgeous modern design, a brilliant 120Hz AMOLED display (which outcompetes even some of the most expensive smartphones on the market), and a particularly impressive 50MP camera, the Redmi Note 12 is undeniably brilliant for the price.
While there are some setbacks with a phone at this price, the weak Snapdragon Gen 4 chipset brings some sluggishness during use, which is to be expected for a phone at its price, in all honesty.
What the Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 does offer, however, is seriously brilliant value, some particularly solid photography with clear and vibrant pictures and an all-around solid mobile experience.
Pros
- It's hard to find a smartphone this well-specified at this price
- Incredible 120Hz display gives you smooth visuals for gaming, the OS and more
- A solid 50MP triple camera means you're not losing out on photographic quality
Cons
- The Snapdragon Gen 4 processor isn't as powerful as some others here
Best gaming Android smartphone
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An unexpected addition to our Android list, but a more than welcome one - the ASUS ROG Phone 7 is designed explicitly to decimate mobile games altogether.
With specs to rival even some laptops, the ASUS ROG Phone 7 comes with an unprecedented 16GB of RAM, an enormous 512GB of storage and a cutting-edge Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset perfect for total gaming domination.
Playing your favourite MOBAs, racing through intense multiplayer games or just chilling with some simple management games has never been as enthralling - this 120Hz powerhouse of a smartphone can handle it all.
Pros
- One of the most powerful phones ever made from a leading brand in gaming tech
- More RAM than the vast majority of smartphones means this is ready for anything
- The screen runs at a smooth 120hz for accurate and detailed framerates
Cons
- For a gamer-centric device, the design is a little bland
Best Android phone under £300
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Easily one of the best value smartphones on the market this year, the Google Pixel 6a is an absolute steal of a deal - with no shortage of shockingly good hardware and brainy features to keep you consistently baffled at its price.
Boasting an array of spectacular tech specs at its particularly low price, among them being an excellent Google Tensor chipset, 128GB of storage, and even 6GB of RAM (which is more than many flagship phones this year), the Google Pixel 6a is powerful, there's no denying it.
As for photography, the Pixel 6a is geared with a dual camera 12MP setup, which is refreshingly clean for a budget phone. Combined with Google's image sharpening tech, the Pixel 6a's photography is bright, with a surprising amount of dynamic colour and brightness within every snap.
Pros
- The excellent image-sharpening photography tech makes this a great all-round choice for snappers
- The 6GB of RAM is a little more than most phones in this price range
- The all-day battery life is excellent for those on the move
Cons
- Onboard storage is a little low at 128 GB
Best innovative Android smartphone
Stunningly designed and brilliantly innovative, Samsung's Galaxy Z Flip4 is a breath of fresh air for the phone industry. Long have we seen slab phone after slab phone, with little-to-no true design changes as the years go by. That is, until the release of the Galaxy Z Flip 4, Samsung's answer to the competition that truly leaves an impression.
Forget the excellent Snapdragon 8 chipset and the 128GB of storage, it's the folding screen that you truly want, and what a feature it is. This major change drastically changes the portability of the traditional Samsung Galaxy lineup, which tends to be monstrously large to the point of being impractical.
The 6.7-inch screen of the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4 feels particularly large, making it great for gaming and watching plenty of YouTube content, and when you're on the go - simply just flip it and keep it safe and sound.
In our hands-on Samsung Galaxy Flip4 review we experienced first-hand the sheer satisfaction of its beautiful folding screen, and needless to say - we weren't disappointed.
Read our full Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4 review
Pros
- The folding screen gives you more display real estate and looks very cool
- Stunning performance thanks to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor
- An incredible advancement in phone technology that won't fail to impress
Cons
- The battery life is fairly limited
Best Google Android smartphone
Google's Pixel 7 Pro is the latest and greatest addition to the Google Pixel roster that is seemingly climbing in popularity by the day, and it's clear to see why.
Bursting at the seams with impressive technology - the 50MP triple camera, gorgeous 120Hz screen and staggering Google Tensor G2 chipset, which is razor-sharp when it comes to casual browsing and performance, how this smartphone is under £1,000 is baffling to us.
Google's smart features, including excellent language translation and rapid voice assistance make this phone even more compelling - there's so much to discover and integrate into your daily routine, you'll find no shortage of fun with the Google Pixel 7 Pro.
Pros
- An incredibly powerful smartphone - and fast, thanks to the Google OS and Tensor CPU
- It's packed with excellent Google features for those who like fast and accurate search and more
- The design is gorgeous and refined - setting it apart from the mainstream a little
Cons
- The battery life is shorter than some others
Best Android smartphones of 2024: Buyer's guide
Choosing Android over Apple
This long-held debate has wracked the brains of YouTubers and tech enthusiasts alike, and as many have discovered, there's just no definitive answer to this question.
Android phones have a great amount of customisation and user freedom, with great options for some truly in-depth tweaking and more. Apple Phones, on the other hand, generally have a much more seamless user experience, with plenty of Siri integration and some satisfying designed settings interfaces that are easy to use in a pinch.
As for power, however, Android is the uncontested winner - with a much larger range of brands with niche gaming phones and all sorts of technical powerhouses, there are some truly beefy smartphones available, should you want them.
Identify your needs and stick to your budget
If there's any device that tempts people to break the bank, it's Android smartphones. Their specs are great, but there's always something slightly better just over the horizon. Whether that's a slightly bigger screen, more memory or larger battery life. But, if you do have a budget in mind, we think it's always best to identify what you need your phone for and stick to it.
If you're an avid gamer, definitely put some of your money into the size and quality of the screen and the processor. Together they'll deliver detailed, slick gaming.
If you're more of a photographer, then, of course, the lenses and megapixel counts will be important - as will the screen technology. We recommend OLED screens for accurate and vibrant colours.
For social butterflies and more general use, a balanced set of features that you'll find on the majority of Android Smartphones is best. It's here that you'll find screens of about 5-6-inches and average amounts of storage and processing power. It's enough for light gaming, casual photography, browsing and more.
Best Android smartphones of 2024: FAQs
Are Android phones under £200 worth it?
Short answer - absolutely. Yes, they may not have all of the apps and features of a high-end smartphone, but they still offer plenty for their price.
Especially now that even some solid hardware is reasonably priced, you can even get 120Hz screens for under £200 - that's definitely worth it to us.
What's the best Android brand?
There is no definitive best brand for Android smartphones, but that doesn't mean we don't have favourites. For an ultra-smooth, cutting-edge user experience with plenty to offer tech nerds, Samsung is truly the one to beat.
Ryan Houghton is a commercial content writer for What’s The Best, known best for his expertise in gaming, with a particular soft spot for PC gaming, audio tech, televisions and smartphones.
Diligently writing for What’s The Best for almost two years, there are very few tech products Ryan hasn’t had his hands on to review; televisions, headphones, folding phones and even LEGO, if it’s nerdy, he’ll be there.
His well-versed history as one of the resident techies at What’s The Best has kept him keen to uncover the very best deals, savings and offers for those in need of a cracking deal to upgrade their setup.
In his downtime, Ryan most likely has his nose buried in a fantasy book, or his eyes glued to a screen whilst playing a tough-as-nails Soulslike or leisurely RPG, indulging in most forms of escapism where possible.
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