Mike Adams Live: These are the best Android phones you can buy right now

If you want to get your hands on the best Android phone in 2020, the OnePlus 8 Pro is for you. It's a device that delivers all of the high-end specs and features you could ask for in a flagship smartphone, all while coming in at a lower price than a lot of its competition. That said, if you're in the market for something more affordable, with different software, or a more unique design, there are plenty of other options to consider.

The best Android phones at a glance

OnePlus 8 Pro — The OnePlus 8 Pro stands out for its ability to deliver a fully-fledged flagship smartphone for less money than you'd expect — solidifying it as our top overall choice.
Samsung Galaxy S20+ — Have a few more dollars to spend? The Galaxy S20+ offers an even better screen, more feature-rich software, and nicer cameras.
Moto G Power — For shoppers with limited budgets, the Moto G Power is a fantastic pick. It delivers an all-around great Android experience for an even better price.
Google Pixel 4a — If you like getting good bang-for-your-buck, the Pixel 4a has you covered.
Motorola Edge — The Motorola Edge is a unique phone, offering a lot of high-end features and specs for less money than the competition.
Google Pixel 4 XL — Having a camera that you can rely on is a big deal, and with the Pixel 4 XL, you'll be able to capture some of the best pictures ever.
Sony Xperia 1 II — Video is just as important as still images, and if that's a big concern for you, no phone nails this category as well as the Xperia 1 II.
Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra — Running out of battery life is never a fun time. Thanks to the massive 5,000 mAh capacity found in the Galaxy S20 Ultra, that's never something you'll have to worry about.
Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra — If you use your phone to work on-the-go, the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra is a perfect fit. Between its large display, ample features, and included S Pen, it's the perfect phone for productivity.
TCL 10 Pro — It's pretty easy to overlook the TCL 10 Pro, but it'd be a shame if you did. For anyone looking to buy in the mid-range space, it's a super interesting option.
Xiaomi Mi 10 — International phones come with a lot of quirks. Assuming you're OK with those, it's hard to argue with the value offered by the Xiaomi MI 10.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 — Folding phones are the future, and no other device captures that quite as well as the Galaxy Z Fold 2.

What are the best Android phones?

There are a lot of contenders when it comes to the best Android phones, but we think the OnePlus 8 Pro stands out above its many competitors as the go-to choice for most people. OnePlus has been making smartphones since 2014, but up until recently, they've all come with a notable drawback or two compared to proper flagships from Samsung and Apple. That changed with the 8 Pro.

What makes the OnePlus 8 Pro so great? It all starts with its display — a 6.78-inch Quad HD AMOLED panel with a smooth 120Hz refresh rate. It's downright stunning for whatever app/game you're using, and thanks to the flagship Qualcomm processor and well-optimized software, everything you do on the 8 Pro moves with unrivaled speed. Combine that with great cameras, wireless charging, and an IP rating for dust/water resistance, and the OnePlus 8 Pro has just about everything you could ask for.

The OnePlus 8 Pro is an exceptional smartphone, but if you have a few more dollars to spend and want something just a little more impressive, you can't go wrong with the Samsung Galaxy S20+. This is one of the very best phones Samsung has ever created, offering a user experience that's really hard to beat. The S20+ delivers one of the best displays you can currently get on a phone, comes with incredibly capable cameras, has long-lasting battery life, and so much more. A lot of folks will be just fine saving a few bucks and getting the OnePlus 8 Pro instead, but if you want to really treat yourself, the S20+ is hard to ignore.

We should also mention the Moto G Power, which is a completely different category of smartphone compared to the OnePlus 8 Pro and Galaxy S20+. It has considerably lesser specs across the board and a cheaper design, but that also results in a vastly lower price. Times are tough for a lot of people right now, and if you want an Android phone that can do everything you ask of it while spending as little as possible, the Moto G Power is the phone to get.

1. OnePlus 8 Pro

The best Android phone overall

Bottom line If you're shopping for a flagship Android device, it's hard to do any better than the OnePlus 8 Pro. It offers excellent hardware and software, has every feature you could ask for, and does this while costing less than the best flagship from Samsung.

Pros:

120Hz display is incredible
Super-fast performance
Very good cameras
Large battery and fast charge speeds
IP68 rating for dust/water resistance

Cons:

Weak telephoto camera

$920 at Amazon

The OnePlus 8 Pro is impressive and well-designed as any high-end smartphone can be. If you know anything about OnePlus phones, you'll be happy to know it doesn't upend the traditional OnePlus formula. Instead, it extends it to its logical place in the world of 2020 flagships with more features and a higher price.

The hardware goes toe-to-toe with any phone out there, and it's punctuated by the best display OnePlus has ever used. It's bright, colorful and has a 120Hz refresh rate. Inside, there are exceptional specs, and that leads to fantastic performance thanks to the super-smooth OxygenOS software — it's just a joy to use.

The 8 Pro also brings the best cameras yet to the OnePlus phone, with a new primary sensor that steps up its game to a true flagship level. The entire camera experience is a small step behind the likes of the Galaxy S20+, but then again, it's also a little less expensive. Rounding out the hardware side of things, the OnePlus 8 Pro delivers great battery life and super-fast charge speeds (including support for both 30W wired and wireless charging).

Overall, the OnePlus 8 Pro earns our top recommendation because it's just so easy to recommend to anyone looking for a flagship smartphone. It has a beautiful display, incredible performance, very good cameras, and long-lasting battery life. There's no major drawback to any aspect of the phone, making its competitive price tag that much more appealing.

Best Android Phone Overall

OnePlus 8 Pro

$920 at Amazon

The OnePlus 8 Pro is the best Android phone you can buy in 2020, and that's all there is to it.

2. Samsung Galaxy S20+

The best upgrade Android pick

Bottom line The higher price of the Galaxy S20+ isn't for everyone, but if you can afford it, you're in for something special. Compared to the OnePlus 8 Pro, you're primarily benefitting from nicer cameras, an even better display, and a ton of extra features that are only available on a Samsung phone.

Pros:

Industry-leading display
Premium design/build quality
Wonderful cameras
Excellent battery life
Tons of software features

Cons:

Fingerprint sensor is hit-or-miss

From $1,048 at Amazon From $1,050 at Best Buy From $1,048 at Walmart

Before the Galaxy S20 series came out, our top pick here was the Galaxy S10+ — and everything Samsung did this year made it easy to recommend the S20+. The S20+ makes improvements across the board, starting with the display. It's a 6.7-inch AMOLED panel with a 120Hz refresh rate, and it's easily one of the very best screens you can get on a smartphone in 2020. We're also happy to see the Snapdragon 865 processor, which allows for breakneck speeds and native 5G support on all U.S. carriers.

Samsung made improvements to other specs, too, with the S20+ offering a large 4,500 mAh battery that has more than enough juice for even the most intense of power-users. There's also plenty of RAM and storage to keep you happy, with Samsung still allowing you to add additional space with a microSD card if you need to.

The huge move up is with the cameras, with a new array both front and back. The new sensors are all larger and let in more light so you can take dramatically better low-light photos. It's not entirely on the level of the Pixel 4 XL, but this is a big step up for Samsung and is no longer a shortcoming of this flagship. You also get capable zooming up to 5X, while keeping an ultra-wide camera for more shooting variety.

Rounding out the Galaxy S20+ are all of the usual Samsung trimmings you've come to expect. The company's One UI software experience is jam-packed with features, and while it can be a bit overwhelming at times, there's no denying the utility that's added by the software. Samsung Pay also continues to be the best mobile payment service on the market, supporting NFC and MST transactions so you can pay with the S20+ at virtually any business.

Best Android Phone Upgrade

Samsung Galaxy S20+

From $1,048 at Amazon From $1,050 at Best Buy From $1,048 at Walmart

For a few more dollars, the Galaxy S20+ gives you an even better display, more capable cameras, and extra software features.

3. Moto G Power

The best Android phone on a budget

Bottom line The Moto G Power doesn't have the best specs or design, but for people that are shopping with a tight budget, it delivers a thoroughly enjoyable Android experience for a shockingly small amount of money.

Pros:

Easy on the wallet
Up to three-day battery life
Runs most apps/games just fine
Clean, intuitive software
Works with every U.S. carrier

Cons:

No NFC for Google Pay
Only promised one software update

$250 at Amazon $250 at Best Buy $249 at Walmart

While a lot of this list focuses on high-end Android phones, the "best" you can buy doesn't necessarily mean the most expensive or most premium. For a lot of people, the best Android phone is the one that runs all of their apps and games, keeps them connected with loved ones, and does so while costing as little as possible. If that's the kind of phone you're shopping for, you'd like to steer your attention towards the Moto G Power.

Compared to the OnePlus 8 Pro and Galaxy S20+, the Moto G Power isn't nearly as impressive. It has an LCD display that's only 60Hz, it features a plastic construction that scratches fairly easily, and the cameras won't blow you away any time soon. Here's the thing, though — none of that stuff matters. If you want a phone that'll work the way you want it to and not make you want to tear your hair out, the Moto G Power fits the bill perfectly.

Despite its lower specs, there's nothing about the Moto G Power that's a deal-breaker. The display looks more than good enough given the phone's low price, it can handle just about any app or game without serious issues, and the cameras (while not amazing) are perfectly fine for sharing quick pictures on Twitter and Instagram. There's also the gigantic 5,000 mAh battery, which can get you through two or three days of full use on a single charge. Seriously.

The lack of NFC for Google Pay is disappointing, as is the fact that Android 11 is the only major update the Moto G Power will ever see. If those two things don't matter to you, however, this is one of the best Android phones you can buy for this cheap of a price.

Best Android Phone on a Budget

Moto G Power

$250 at Amazon $250 at Best Buy $249 at Walmart

The Moto G Power is plenty fast, has a decent display, excellent battery life, and a price tag that your wallet will love.

4. Google Pixel 4a

The best value Android phone

Bottom line There are a lot of good smartphone deals out there, but done of them are as amazing as the Pixel 4a. From its flagship-grade camera, fast performance, reliable battery life, and long-term software support, no other phone gives you this much for so little.

Pros:

Flagship camera on a budget phone
Easy to use in one hand
AMOLED display looks great
Snappy performance
Three years of software support

Cons:

Boring design

$350 at Amazon $350 at Best Buy

The Pixel 4a is the best phone value available today, period. Google's packed most of what makes the Pixel 4 series good into a smartphone that costs over 50% less. You also get a compact device that, in spite of its size, excels in the battery life department. Seriously, this phone lasts all day and then some.

Perhaps the most impressive part of the 4a is its camera, which is nearly on par with the Pixel 4. The main camera shoots exceptional photos in all lighting conditions, with Night Sight really showing its strength in poor lighting. Google even added Astrophotography mode this time around, and improved the already-impressive Portrait Mode. The front-facing camera is also tack-sharp, and focuses more quickly than on the Pixel 3a from last year. Both front and back, you're getting flagship-level camera quality out of a phone that's a fraction of the price. Google's also improved the video quality this year, thanks to an improved Snapdragon 730 SoC and 6GB of RAM standard.

So what do you lose by spending three hundred and fifty dollars instead of eight hundred or a thousand? Well, the Pixel 4a is made of plastic, and lacks both water resistance and wireless charging, features you can take for granted at a higher price point. It also only comes in one size, a 5.8-inch variant, and one color, black. There are no storage size options, either: you get 128GB of internal memory, which should be plenty for most people, but a lack of microSD expansion may be a problem for the content collectors out there. And it should go without saying that the Pixel 4a lacks 5G support — though Google has promised to release a larger Pixel 4a 5G later this year alongside a more premium Pixel 5.

All of these limitations shouldn't impede your desire to buy the Pixel 4a, which has been one of the best smartphone surprises of 2020 so far— even if it did launch a few months late. From the size to the performance to the battery life and camera quality, Google's latest budget phone is a winner.

Best Android Phone Value

Google Pixel 4a

$350 at Amazon $350 at Best Buy

The Pixel 4a has flagship camera quality at a fraction of the price. It's also one of the few tremendous compact phones available.

5. Motorola Edge

The best value 5G Android phone

Bottom line The Motorola Edge is the company's value flagship for 2020, and all things considered, it's pretty darn great. Outside of a disappointing camera system, everything else about the Edge feels super premium while coming in at a really solid price.

Pros:

Curved screen is a thing of beauty
Buttery performance
Long battery life
Motorola's fantastic software
Has a headphone jack and expandable storage

Cons:

Very disappointing cameras
Lacks wireless charging

$700 at Amazon $700 at Best Buy $700 at B&H

For the past few years, Motorola has primarily focused on the budget space for Android phones. While that's still mostly true, the company has started branching out into more high-end devices — one of the first ones being the Motorola Edge. A lot about the phone feels like a proper flagship, though it makes a couple of compromises in order to hit a really great price.

Like so many of the phones on this list, one of the biggest draws to the Motorola Edge is its display. It's a large 6.7-inch OLED panel with a 90Hz refresh rate, and thanks to the narrow 19.5:9 aspect ratio, is surprisingly easy to use in one hand. All of that's great, but what makes the Edge's display stand out are its curved sides. The left and right edges of the display flow over either end like a waterfall, and using the Motorola Edge, it results in apps and games feeling incredibly immersive. Motorola also has a couple of software tweaks to add some utility to these edges, which can be fun to play around with. Palm rejection isn't always the best, but there's no denying just how good this design looks.

Ensuring everything moves along without a hitch is the Qualcomm Snapdragon 765 and 6GB of RAM. Everything on the Motorola Edge runs just as fast as you could ask for, and with the 765 processor, you can connect to sub-6 5G networks for faster data speeds (assuming your carrier has active 5G service that you can use in your area). You also get excellent battery life, a reliable in-screen fingerprint sensor, and little goodies like a headphone jack and expandable storage.

You're getting a lot for your money with the Motorola Edge, but there are a couple of weak points you should be aware of. The phone's cameras are pretty mediocre, there isn't support for wireless charging, and Motorola is only committing to one software update. That may deter some potential customers, but even with those cons in mind, the Motorola Edge has continued to stand out as one of my favorite phones of the year.

Best Android Phone Value with 5G

Motorola Edge

$700 at Amazon $700 at Best Buy $700 at B&H

If you want things like 5G, an incredible display, and long battery life for a great price, the Motorola Edge has you covered.

6. Google Pixel 4 XL

The best Android camera

Bottom line They say that the best camera you have is the one you have with you, so make sure that one is the best it can be. Google's Pixel 4 XL takes incredible photos in virtually any setting, and thanks to the company's top-notch image processing, you don't even have to be a pro photographer to get impressive shots.

Pros:

The best camera on the market
Matte glass back
90Hz AMOLED display
Face unlock is awesome
Best-in-class software support

Cons:

Mediocre battery life

From $630 at Amazon From $650 at Best Buy $633 at B&H

Google launched the Pixel 4 and 4 XL back in October 2019 to very mixed results. The phones did a lot of things right, but with horrible and disappointing battery life on the former and latter, respectively, they were often cast in a negative light. That really is a shame, because nearly a year later, the Pixel 4 XL continues to have the very best camera you can get on an Android phone in 2020.

While the Pixel 4 and 4 XL have the same exact camera system, we're recommending the XL model specifically because its battery is a lot better than the smaller model. It's still not amazing by any stretch of the imagination, but it's adequate and should get you through a day of use as long as you aren't stressing it too much. Thankfully, the Pixel 4 XL's camera makes up for that.

Simply put, this phone takes jaw-dropping photos. The 12.2MP and 16MP sensors may not sound all that impressive at first glance, but the hardware isn't what makes the Pixel 4 XL special — it's the software. Google's image processing is nothing short of magic, because every time you press the shutter button, you're basically guaranteed a great shot. Pictures taken in daylight always look amazing, and even when you're shooting at night or in a room with little-to-no light, the Pixel 4 XL still manages to churn ridiculously good results. The astrophotography mode is especially impressive, allowing you to take pictures of the night sky that were previously only possible if you had an expensive DSLR.

The camera is obviously the big draw to the Pixel 4 XL, but the rest of the experience is every bit as good. Its matte glass back looks and feels outstanding, the 90Hz AMOLED display is a treat to use, and Google's software is clean, intuitive, and backed by guaranteed updates through October 2022.

Best Android Phone Camera

Google Pixel 4 XL

From $630 at Amazon From $650 at Best Buy $633 at B&H

For those not deterred by mediocre battery life, the Pixel 4 XL's industry-leading cameras are darn close to perfection.

7. Sony Xperia 1 II

The best Android phone for video

Bottom line Lots of phones shoot great-looking video these days, but few offer as many features and settings in this department as the Sony Xperia 1 II. If you consider yourself a videographer and want a phone you can use for creative work, this is what you should get.

Pros:

Absolutely gorgeous 4K display
Fast performance
There's a headphone jack
Extremely capable camera system
Reliable battery life

Cons:

Expensive
Doesn't have 5G

$1,200 at Amazon $1,200 at Best Buy $1,198 at B&H

Sony is most well-known these days for its cameras, headphones, and the PlayStation, but the company does still make Android phones. They don't get a lot of buzz and are pretty much invisible in the U.S., but that's not to say you should overlook what the company's kicking out. In fact, if you're a fan of shooting video with your smartphone, the Sony Xperia 1 II is an excellent consideration.

The Xperia 1 II comes equipped with Sony's Cinema Pro app, allowing you to have full control over the video that you shoot. There are endless settings and features to adjust, giving you options that a lot of other phones simply don't offer. On the technical side of things, the Xperia 1 II can shoot 4K HDR video at 24, 25, 30, and 60fps. There's also optical and electronic image stabilization, allowing you to keep all of your pans as smooth as can be.

When you're ready to view your footage, the Sony Xperia 1 II touts a seriously impressive screen. It's a 6.5-inch OLED one with a legit 4K resolution and 21:9 aspect ratio. It's one of the most cinematic displays on the market, and while there's no fast refresh rate, that doesn't take away from just how darn good it looks.

Ample storage, RAM, and battery capacity help to flesh out the rest of the Xperia 1 II experience, and we're pleased to see things like a headphone jack and wireless charging. It isn't the best deal out there, given the high price tag, but if you're serious about video, the Xperia 1 II makes a strong case for itself.

Best Android Phone for Video

Sony Xperia 1 II

$1,200 at Amazon $1,200 at Best Buy $1,198 at B&H

Video pros, listen up. The Sony Xperia 1 II is for you, offering super capable cameras and a cinematic screen unlike any other.

8. Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra

The best battery life on an Android phone

Bottom line For those of you that are always on your phone and need a battery that'll be able to keep up with you no matter what, the Galaxy S20 Ultra reigns supreme. Its hefty price and size could be an issue, but when battery life is a priority, this is the phone to get.

Pros:

Top-notch smartphone display
Truly massive battery
Blazing-fast performance
Capable camera package
Feature-rich software

Cons:

Too big and bulky
Has some camera issues

From $1,187 at Amazon From $1,250 at Best Buy From $1,187 at Walmart

Just like the name implies, the Galaxy S20 Ultra takes another step up from the Galaxy S20+. It has all of the same specs and capabilities, but with an even larger display — 6.9 inches, Samsung's biggest — and a correspondingly larger battery at 5,000 mAh. When you keep the phone in 60Hz display mode, it's a complete battery champion; you'll never have to worry about battery life on this phone. And, when you do eventually need to charge up, you can take advantage of fast wired and wireless charging options.

The Ultra also makes use of that extra space (and price) to give you better cameras, with a 108MP main camera that takes even brighter photos, and a telephoto camera that can reach out and get great shots up to 10x (and decent ones at 15x). Everything else about the S20 Ultra is pretty much the same as what you get on the S20+, meaning the Snapdragon 865 processor, plenty of RAM/storage, and Samsung's excellent One UI software that'll keep you endlessly busy with all of its various features.

The trade-offs of getting this extra capability, and battery life, are overall size and price. The S20 Ultra is big, and almost 20% heavier than the S20+; it's also notably more expensive, which can be tough to swallow when the S20+ is already quite spendy. But if battery life is a priority, this is your best bet.

Best Android Phone Battery Life

Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra

From $1,187 at Amazon From $1,250 at Best Buy From $1,187 at Walmart

Take the S20+ up a level — all of the same qualities, but with an even bigger screen and larger battery, plus improved cameras.

9. Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra

The best Android phone for productivity

Bottom line The Note 20 Ultra is a phone that was made to do it all. It has top-of-the-line performance, a huge display that looks outstanding, and an ultra-powerful S Pen that can be used to drawing, note-taking, and so much more.

Pros:

Samsung's best design in years
120Hz AMOLED screen
S Pen is more powerful than ever
Really excellent cameras
All-day battery

Cons:

In-screen fingerprint sensor
Incredibly high price

From $1,100 at Amazon From $1,100 at Best Buy From $1,100 at B&H

The world turns, seasons change, and Samsung updates its Note lineup. It's an annual constant, and yet Samsung went and made some massive changes to the Note lineup this year. The Galaxy Note 20 Ultra is an imposing and beautiful object, arrayed in a matte glass back finish with a massive camera bump located in the top left corner. The camera, which has three lenses, is one of the most impressive updates to this Note 10+ successor, but the real story starts, as always, with the display.

The 6.9-inch AMOLED display on the Note 20 Ultra is absolutely stunning, among the brightest, most colorful and accurate ever made. It's also the canvas for the new-and-improved S Pen, which now boasts latency three times less than the previous generation Note. That means text, sketches, and other S Pen-related activities feel more like real paper than ever. The Snapdragon 865+ SoC and 12GB of RAM inside the phone attempt to justify the imposing price tag, but Samsung's cut absolutely no corners here. The 4,500mAh battery lasts all day (most of the time), and the dual speakers are just as impressive as ever.

Getting back to the cameras, here's where the Note 20 Ultra really tries to differentiate itself from previous Note phones. The main 108MP sensor is just huge, physically and artistically, allowing you to take beautiful portraits and close-ups with shallow depth of field. Samsung's also fixed the autofocus issues that plagued the Galaxy S20 Ultra, too, so this is easily the company's best camera ever. Even better, you get a true 5x telephoto camera that cuts no corners thanks to an engineering marvel in the form of a prism.

Samsung's also cleaned up its software game in the form of One UI 2.5. It's still based on Android 10, but the company's made some subtle tweaks to the way everything coheres, and it finally feels like Samsung has a unified approach to software. Plus, Samsung's promised three years of software updates, so it's likely the Note 20 Ultra will get Android 13 sometime in 2022 or 2023. How cool is that?

The Galaxy Note 20 Ultra isn't cheap, but it could be the best premium phone on the market right now. It's still a bit too pricey to be our top pick, but if you want the phone with the least compromises, this is the one to get.

Best Android Phone for Productivity

Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra

From $1,100 at Amazon From $1,100 at Best Buy From $1,100 at B&H

Samsung one-upped itself with the Note 20 Ultra, offering a perfect blend of design, performance, and note-taking excellence.

10. TCL 10 Pro

A fantastic value pick with great cameras

Bottom line Not a lot of people talk about the TCL 10 Pro, and honestly, that's a shame. It's not the absolute best phone in the world, but it manages to deliver a mix of features, specs, and value that's absolutely worth talking about.

Pros:

Fast performance
Clean and functional software
HDR display
Dependable battery
Customizable Smart Key

Cons:

Cameras aren't very good
No wireless charging or water resistance

$450 at Amazon $450 at Best Buy $450 at B&H

With so many different companies releasing countless phones throughout the year, it's understandable if some slip through the cracks. There's a good chance you've never heard of the TCL 10 Pro, and that's perfectly understandable. It's one of the first Android phones TCL's ever released in the U.S., and for shoppers with a moderate budget, it's surprisingly great.

Looking at the spec sheet for the 10 Pro, there's a lot to like. Qualcomm's Snapdragon 675 paired with 6GB of RAM allows for reliable performance, there's 128GB of built-in storage that you can expand with a microSD card, and a large 4,500 mAh battery means you can go for long spurts at a time without needing to charge up. We're also quite happy with the phone's design, which is really sleek and has a matte glass back.

Another strong suit of the TCL 10 Pro is its display. It's a decently-large 6.47-inch AMOLED one with a Full HD+ resolution, but what makes it stand out is its ability to convert non-HDR content into HDR in real-time. This helps all of your movies, TV shows, and YouTube videos to look as bright and colorful as can be, and it's a great feature to have on a phone this affordable.

TCL had to make some cuts in order to hit the price that it did, and that's evident with the 10 Pro's cameras. They leave a lot to the imagination in just about every environment, and while they might be enough for some users, it's hard to completely forgive when you consider how good the Pixel 4a's camera is for even less money. Then again, if you aren't a shutterbug and value the TCL 10 Pro's hardware, display, and expandable storage, it's a great alternative.

Best Android Phone Underdog

TCL 10 Pro

$450 at Amazon $450 at Best Buy $450 at B&H

The TCL 10 Pro may not be on your radar, but we'd encourage you to change that. As far as mid-rangers go, it's quite the package.

11. Xiaomi Mi 10

The best Android phone for international buyers

Bottom line The world of international Android phones is a vast and varied one, and the Xiaomi Mi 10 is one of the best you can buy. It has a fantastic AMOLED display, top-notch specs, and a 108MP camera that's bound to turn a few heads.

Pros:

108MP camera is might impressive
90Hz AMOLED display
Flagship performance
Super-fast charging speeds
Competitive price

Cons:

Limited U.S. band support
Doesn't have a proper warranty

$615 at Amazon $651 at Newegg

The U.S. smartphone market has a lot to choose from, but if you take a quick look at what's available in other countries, you'll realize that a ton of interesting devices just never make their way over here. Thankfully, importing these international phones is very easy. If that's a road you're interested in embarking on, the Xiaomi Mi 10 is the one to get.

There's so much about the Xiaomi Mi 10 that impresses, with its most noteworthy feature being its 108MP camera. Pictures taken with the camera look absolutely incredible, and thanks to 8K video support with optical image stabilization, the Mi 10 has a lot to offer in the video department as well. You're also treated to Qualcomm's Snapdragon 865 processor, a large 4,780 mAh battery with fast wired and wireless charging, and a 90Hz AMOLED display that looks really stunning.

You get all of this at a price that's considerably lower than what's offered by the likes of Samsung and OnePlus, so what gives? While the Xiaomi Mi 10 technically works on AT&T and T-Mobile in the United States, it lacks a lot of the LTE bands we use in the country. That means you'll be faced with worse reception than normal, and depending on where you live, that could be a deal-breaker. It's also worth mentioning that international phones like the Mi 10 do not come with any sort of manufacturer warranty, which is worth keeping in mind.

Not everyone will be comfortable with those caveats, and we honestly can't blame you. Buying an international phone is a tricky thing, but if it's an avenue you're open to, the Xiaomi Mi 10 is one of the best ones you can get right now.

Best Android Phone International

Xiaomi Mi 10

$615 at Amazon $651 at Newegg

Service compatibility issues aside, the Xiaomi Mi 10 offers some of the best specs and features you can get at this price.

12. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2

The best foldable phone

Bottom line Folding phones are here, and the Galaxy Z Fold 2 is the best one we've seen yet. It's basically a smartphone and tablet in one device, and while it is outrageously expensive, it's also the best attempt yet we've seen for this form factor.

Pros:

Bleeding-edge design
Puts a mini tablet in your pocket
Excellent displays
Great cameras and battery
Well-optimized software

Cons:

That price tag
App compatibility issues

$2,000 at Amazon $2,000 at Best Buy $2,000 at Samsung

Just like any piece of technology, smartphones evolve and change as time goes on. We've seen screens get bigger, cameras get a lot more capable, and processors rival those found in computers. The next big thing for phones is the folding form factor, and so far, the best yet in this niche is the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2.

The best way to think about the device is it being a phone and tablet in one. When the Z Fold 2 is closed, you're treated to a 6.23-inch AMOLED display that you can use for anything you'd like — checking email, scrolling through Twitter, watching YouTube videos, you name it. Should you find yourself wanting a larger canvas, however, all you need to do is open up the Z Fold 2 up. There, you're treated to a larger 7.6-inch AMOLED screen with a 120Hz refresh rate. It's a lot like having an iPad Mini that you can fold up and take with you wherever you want, and if you ask us, that's pretty amazing.

As you might expect for a new technology like a folding phone, the Z Fold 2 does come with some unique dilemmas. The Ultra Thin Glass for the tablet display is prone to scratches a lot more than traditional glass, the folding design raises questions about long-term durability, and not all apps are properly optimized for that larger display size. There's also the matter of price, with the Galaxy Z Fold 2 costing more than two OnePlus 8 Pros.

This isn't a phone that we recommend everyone go out and buy right now, but as far as folding phones go, the Galaxy Z Fold 2 is the best we've seen to-date. If you're willing to spend the money and put up with those quirks, the Z Fold 2 has a lot to offer.

Best Android Phone Foldable

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2

$2,000 at Amazon $2,000 at Best Buy $2,000 at Samsung

Folding phones are the future, and leading that revolution is the Galaxy Z Fold 2 from Samsung.

How to pick the best Android phone

Android phones have never been better than they are right now. Regardless of how much or little money you can spend, you can go out and buy a phone that you'll be thoroughly happy with. Out of every single phone on the market in 2020, however, we have to give our top recommendation as the best Android phone to the OnePlus 8 Pro.

We've been fans of OnePlus's for a long time, and with the 8 Pro, we finally get to see what the company can do when it doesn't hold anything back. This is the first OnePlus phone without a major compromise or missing feature, and the fact that we get all of that at a price that's still competitive is absolutely incredible.

Want a gorgeous display with a fast refresh rate? The OnePlus 8 Pro has you covered. Plan on playing a lot of games and need snappy performance? No problem. Take a lot of photos and want cameras that'll preserve your memories in pristine quality? Check. All of the core smartphone pillars are delivered by this phone, and it does so while looking incredible.

There are plenty of other options on this list if something about the OnePlus 8 Pro just isn't clicking for you, but at the end of the day, we think it's easy to see why it has our highest recommendation.

1. What size screen should I get?

There are a lot of different things you should consider when buying a new Android phone, and it all starts with the display. This is the component you interact with more than anything else, so it's important you get one that you'll enjoy using. Things like the resolution and refresh rate of a screen are worth talking about, but even more so is the size.

Smartphones come in all sorts of different shapes and sizes, and the biggest determining factor for that is the display. A 6.9-inch screen results in a much larger phone than one with a 5.8-inch one, and because of that, you need to know how big or small you're willing to go.

Take the Galaxy S20 Ultra, for example. It has the largest display on this list (outside of the Z Fold 2, but that's different), and because the screen is so huge, it's a phenomenal canvas for watching movies, playing games, and browsing the web. Basically, any kind of content consumption you do looks better on a larger display, because the more room you have, the bigger and easier-to-see your media is. The downside to this, however, is that phones like the Galaxy S20 Ultra can be rather unwieldy. Especially if you're someone with smaller hands, managing a phone like the S20 Ultra or Note 20 Ultra can be a pain in the butt.

Then there are smaller-sized phones, such as the Pixel 4a. It's substantially easier to manage and can actually be used with one hand, but on the flip side, you have less room for your movies and games. It also means you can fit less content on the screen at one time, and if you're someone that likes to increase your font size so things are easier to read, that could result in you having to do a lot of scrolling.

And, of course, there are plenty of phones that fall somewhere in the middle between these two extremes. If you're really concerned about whether or not a phone will be too big or small, your best bet is to honestly go hands-on with it yourself at your local carrier store or Best Buy before making your purchase.

2. Are software updates important?

It's easy to compare things like displays, processors, and cameras, but something that's just as important to talk about is software updates. Android is constantly evolving and getting better, and unfortunately, only certain phones are backed by a few years of software support.

As it stands, Google and Samsung are the best in the business when it comes to supporting their phones with long-term updates. All of the Pixels and Galaxy devices mentioned on this list are backed by three years of major OS updates from their initial release, which is by far the best support any Android phone maker has to offer. Google even goes a step further with three years of guaranteed monthly security patches, which is an area in which Samsung still has some room to improve.

On the complete opposite end of the spectrum, you have a company like Motorola. Whether we're talking about the Moto G Power or the Motorola Edge, both phones are only promised to get a single update to Android 11. Security patches are even worse, with Motorola having a track record of falling multiple months behind the latest patches.

So, how important is it that your phone gets software updates? That ultimately depends on how much you care about new Android features. Google releases a new version of Android every single year, and while these updates don't tend to be that drastic from year-to-year, they do give your phone important features and security settings that help keep it running in tip-top shape for a long time to come. It also ensures that your phone stays compatible with all the apps and games on the Play Store, because as Android versions become too outdated, app developers eventually drop support.

A phone like the Moto G Power won't be unusable two years down the road just because it's running Android 11 and not Android 13, but it's also a bit disheartening to buy a product and know it's backed by such a small window of post-purchase support. This divide in updates is something Android has been faced with for years, and while companies are gradually getting better in these regards, we still have plenty of room to grow.

3. How many cameras and megapixels do I really need?

Over the last couple of years, there's been a trend going on with certain phone companies and them wanting to throw as many cameras as they can on their devices. As it's become more and more common for phones to ship with two, three, or even four cameras, there's something of an expectation that phones have to have multiple camera sensors in order to be any good.

Spoiler alert — this isn't true.

Let's look at the Motorola Edge. It has a 48MP primary camera, 8MP telephoto camera, and 16MP ultra-wide camera. Compared side-by-side with the single 12.2MP camera on the Pixel 4a, one would assume that the Motorola Edge takes better photos. In reality, it absolutely does not.

Having those extra camera sensors can be a lot of fun, but only if they're high-quality. Far too often, we see companies throw in a bunch of extra cameras on their phones only to have these secondary lenses not be very good. The primary camera sensor is always the most important, so that's the one you want to be concerned about the most.

On a similar note, more megapixels (referred to as MP) doesn't always mean you're getting a better camera. As mentioned above, the 48MP camera on the Motorola Edge takes worse photos than the 12.2MP camera found on the Pixel 4a. There are so many other factors that come into play with phone cameras, so don't let the megapixel count be your one and only factor for judging them when you're out shopping. Read reviews, look at camera samples, and you'll have a much better understanding of what kind of camera you're dealing with.

4. What size battery should I get?

Battery life isn't the most fun thing to talk about with smartphones, but ultimately, it's one of the most important components. Your phone can have the best display and processor around, but if it's constantly dying throughout the day, what's the point?

There are a lot of different battery capacities for all of the phones on this list, and if you don't regularly keep up with them, it can be difficult to know what a good size is and what isn't. So, here's a general rule of thumb. If you're buying an Android phone in 2020, the ideal capacity is one that's 4,000 mAh or larger. As phones move towards larger displays with faster refresh rates, more battery is needed to keep them powered throughout the day.

Of course, this can vary a bit depending on the type of phone you're buying. The Pixel 4a, for example, only has a 3,140 mAh battery but can still get through a full day of use without a hitch. What gives? It has a small display by 2020 standards and only has a 60Hz refresh rate — thus resulting in substantially less power use. You can then have a phone like the Pixel 4 XL, which has a larger 3,700 mAh battery, yet has worse endurance compared to the 4a. The difference is that the Pixel 4 XL has a much larger screen and a more power-hungry 90Hz refresh rate.

These are factors you'll need to consider when shopping for your phone, but generally, more mAh means more battery life.

5. What smaller features should I look out for?

Last but certainly not least, there are a few smaller features and specs that can be easy to overlook when doing your shopping — a prime example being NFC. NFC stands for Near Field Communication, and it's the chip in most phones that allows you to pay with your smartphone with Google Pay at grocery stores, restaurants, etc. The vast majority of modern Android phones have the feature, but some don't (one of which is the Moto G Power). You may not care about Google Pay, but if you do, it's worth double-checking that the phone you want to buy does, in fact, have NFC.

Another spec to check for is an IP68 rating. This is a seal of protection a lot of phones have, and it ensures they're protected from a certain amount of dust and water. If you happen to get caught outside in the rain or take your phone to the beach, an IP68 rating is nice peace of mind that your phone should survive just fine.

Some phones lack this IP rating, yet tout that they're resistant to water or have a water-repellent coating. Those devices are also probably fine to get splashed with water here and there, but you don't have that same guaranteed protection. The best-case scenario is to avoid getting your phone wet whenever possible, but if you happen to be around the water a lot, it's probably worth getting something with that IP68 protection.

We should also address a trend that's been going through the smartphone space for a few years now — the death of the headphone jack. The vast majority of new phones coming out these days no longer have the port, but there remain a few holdouts that continue to offer it. It's certainly nice to have if you're someone that primarily uses wired headphones or earbuds, but if you've moved on to the wireless bandwagon, it's not something you need to be all that concerned with.

We know that's a lot to take in, but once you have an understanding of the kind of phone you're looking for and the budget you have to work with, we hope this guide makes you feel better-equipped to make the right decision. There are so many good phones out there, and we wouldn't recommend one on this list if we didn't think you'd be happy with it. Happy shopping and enjoy your new phone!

Credits — The team that worked on this guide

Joe Maring is Android Central's Senior Editor and has had a love for anything with a screen and CPU since he can remember. He's been talking/writing about Android in one form or another since 2012 and often does so while camping out at the nearest coffee shop. Have a tip for the site? Reach out on Twitter @JoeMaring1 or send an email to joe.maring@futurenet.com!

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Thursday, September 10, 2020

These are the best Android phones you can buy right now

The best Android phones at a glance

What are the best Android phones?

1. OnePlus 8 Pro

The best Android phone overall

Pros:

Cons:

Best Android Phone Overall

OnePlus 8 Pro

2. Samsung Galaxy S20+

The best upgrade Android pick

Pros:

Cons:

Best Android Phone Upgrade

Samsung Galaxy S20+

3. Moto G Power

The best Android phone on a budget

Pros:

Cons:

Best Android Phone on a Budget

Moto G Power

4. Google Pixel 4a

The best value Android phone

Pros:

Cons:

Best Android Phone Value

Google Pixel 4a

5. Motorola Edge

The best value 5G Android phone

Pros:

Cons:

Best Android Phone Value with 5G

Motorola Edge

6. Google Pixel 4 XL

The best Android camera

Pros:

Cons:

Best Android Phone Camera

Google Pixel 4 XL

7. Sony Xperia 1 II

The best Android phone for video

Pros:

Cons:

Best Android Phone for Video

Sony Xperia 1 II

8. Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra

The best battery life on an Android phone

Pros:

Cons:

Best Android Phone Battery Life

Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra

9. Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra

The best Android phone for productivity

Pros:

Cons:

Best Android Phone for Productivity

Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra

10. TCL 10 Pro

A fantastic value pick with great cameras

Pros:

Cons:

Best Android Phone Underdog

TCL 10 Pro

11. Xiaomi Mi 10

The best Android phone for international buyers

Pros:

Cons:

Best Android Phone International

Xiaomi Mi 10

12. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2

The best foldable phone

Pros:

Cons:

Best Android Phone Foldable

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2

How to pick the best Android phone

1. What size screen should I get?

2. Are software updates important?