Best Android Phones for 2025 — Guide & Top Picks
Choosing the best Android phone can feel overwhelming because of the huge variety of models. Unlike Apple’s narrower iPhone line, Android covers everything from premium flagships to affordable 5G phones and foldables. Below are our top picks for 2025 and a short buyer’s guide to help you choose.
Top 6 Android phones (2025) — Quick picks
- Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra — Ultimate flagship with top-tier cameras and S Pen support. Find on Amazon
- Google Pixel 9 Pro XL — Clean Android, excellent AI features and software experience. Find on Amazon
- Samsung Galaxy S25 — Strong all-rounder with great battery and cameras. Find on Amazon
- OnePlus 13 — Fast charging, smooth performance and solid camera system. Find on Amazon
- Samsung Galaxy S24 FE — Affordable flagship-like experience with good value. Find on Amazon
- Samsung Galaxy A36 5G — Budget-friendly 5G phone with reliable everyday performance. Find on Amazon
What to look for in a new Android phone
Performance
Prioritize responsiveness and sustained performance (compute and AI). Benchmarks help, but daily smoothness — for reading, messaging, social apps and gaming — matters most.
Display
Look for OLED panels with at least ~600 nits brightness (many higher-end phones reach 1,000+ nits) and fast refresh rates (90Hz or 120Hz) for smoother visuals.
Design
Consider build quality, dust/water resistance, and extras like wireless charging, reverse wireless charging and UWB for better device interaction.
Cameras
Seek sharp, colorful photos in bright and low light, strong video HDR and stabilization, plus useful extras like telephoto and ultra-wide lenses and dedicated night modes.
Battery & Software
Aim for all-day battery life (16+ hours on video rundown tests is a good benchmark). Wireless and fast charging are nice-to-haves. Prefer brands that commit to multiple years of OS and security updates.
Note: This post summarizes recommendations from specialist reviews and testing. The original guide was published on a tech site; the RSS link has been removed per request.