We take a look at a ton of Android telephones. We like those under, however you may be higher off with one of many choices above. If you have not but carried out so, try our Greatest Low-cost Telephones information for extra.
Google Pixel 6A for $349: Google’s persevering with to promote the 2022 Pixel 6A (8/10, WIRED Recommends) at a marked-down worth (strive to not pay greater than $300). It is nonetheless glorious worth and a worthy buy. It is powered by Google’s first-gen Tensor chip, which implies you are getting among the finest efficiency for the cash, and it helps all the identical nice (and useful) software program smarts because the flagship Pixel 6 sequence. It is obtained an OLED display, an honest digital camera system, and prolonged software program assist. There is no wi-fi charging and it has a 60-Hz display.
Google’s Pixel 7 for $449 and Pixel 7 Pro for $649: The 2022 Pixel 7 sequence (8/10, WIRED Recommends) are good buys if you could find them at these costs (or decrease). The Pixel 7 offers you virtually every little thing you’d need, from wi-fi charging to a 90-Hz display refresh charge. The Pixel 7 Professional is even greater with a 6.7-inch display and it has a 120-Hz refresh charge. Each function Face Unlock, however this is not safe just like the model on the Pixel 8, so you may need to depend on the fingerprint sensor to entry delicate apps. Cameras are an enormous a part of Pixels, and the Pixel 7 Professional outshines its sibling with an upgraded ultrawide with autofocus, enabling a Macro Focus mode for close-ups. Its telephoto digital camera has additionally improved, with glorious 5X optical zoom. These Pixels will obtain 4 extra years of safety updates, which is nice, however solely two extra OS upgrades, which is not so good as the most recent fashions.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 for $1,499: The Fold5 (7/10, WIRED Recommends) stays a superb big-screen folding smartphone. The cameras can take some nice pictures, the shows can get shockingly shiny, and Samsung guarantees prolonged software program assist. However the introduction of the Pixel Fold has proven me how way more I want the broader entrance display. The Fold5’s exterior display feels too slender, and a few apps really feel squished (although it is somewhat simpler to understand when closed). There aren’t too many adjustments from its predecessor, which means it’s nonetheless a good suggestion to purchase the Fold4 at a discount in case you actually need to enter the folding telephone world.
OnePlus 11 5G for $600: This OnePlus 11 (7/10, WIRED Recommends) is incessantly bought at this worth, so keep away from the MSRP. It is a velocity demon, but it surely is not my first selection of telephone, neither is it my second. It feels tremendously fluid and responsive, due to the top-end Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset inside (and all the opposite optimizations), and it recharges so shortly with the included adapter and cable—you’ll be able to go from 0 to 100 in roughly 20 minutes. It is obtained a surprising 120-Hz 6.7-inch AMOLED display, good stereo audio system, and a dependable battery that simply lasts greater than a full day. Even the Hasselblad-tuned cameras produce some good outcomes, and OnePlus is now matching Samsung with a promise of 4 years of Android OS upgrades and 5 years of safety updates (although these are bimonthly as an alternative of month-to-month). It isn’t all rosy although. There is no wi-fi charging, no assist for millimeter-wave 5G, and the water resistance is just IP64 when practically each telephone at this worth has an IP67 ranking (rated to outlive submersions). The general software program interface additionally is not my favourite. However hey, a minimum of it is fairly! It really works on all three main US networks.
Sony Xperia 1 V for $1,398: Sony’s newest flagship telephone (7/10, WIRED Evaluation) is tremendous costly. Nevertheless it’s one of many few smartphones with a 4K OLED display, and it is uncommon to see a high-end telephone with a headphone jack. There are quite a lot of toys for digital camera nerds, whether or not you need to seize a photograph with handbook settings or use Sony’s Cinema Professional app to seize cinematic footage. You possibly can even use the telephone as an exterior monitor in your digital camera. It is a disgrace Sony has a brief software program replace coverage, and its digital camera system continues to be too clunky.
OnePlus 10 Pro for $450: OnePlus’ 2022 flagship telephone is sweet however not nice (7/10, WIRED Recommends), although it is a sensible purchase at this worth. It is spiffy and has highly effective {hardware}, together with a 120-Hz AMOLED display that will get shiny, speedy efficiency, and among the quickest wired and wi-fi charging you may discover within the US. (Sure, not like the OnePlus 11, the older telephone has wi-fi charging assist). It’s going to get two extra OS upgrades and three years of safety updates. You need to know that there isn’t any millimeter-wave 5G right here, simply sub-6, which is odd for a flagship.
Lenovo ThinkPhone by Motorola for $700: This Motorola telephone is a collaboration with Lenovo’s ThinkPad division, maker of the famed enterprise laptops with the little purple nubs. It is a fairly good telephone all-around (7/10, WIRED Recommends), with options like flagship efficiency, two-day battery life, and an OLED 144-Hz display, but it surely simply would not measure as much as its friends at this worth.
Motorola Edge+ 2023 for $800: A Motorola smartphone with contactless cost assist, 5G, wi-fi charging, plus a promise of three OS upgrades and 4 years of safety updates? Say it ain’t so! The Motorola Edge+ lastly matches its friends on a number of counts and exceeds them in some methods. It has a shiny 165-Hz OLED display, it is light-weight, and its 5,100-mAh battery simply lasts two days. The draw back? The cameras are not so good as the cheaper Pixel 7A. Learn our Greatest Motorola Telephones information for extra picks.
OnePlus Nord N30 5G for $300: This OnePlus telephone (6/10, WIRED Evaluation) would not break the mould, and you must completely pay up for a Pixel 6A or any of the telephones above in case you can. But when your funds is basically tight and this telephone goes on sale, it does the job. Efficiency is sweet, and there is two-day battery life.
