It's hard to find a bad Android phone these days — but what's the best Android phone in 2023? It's a daunting question, but one we aim to answer for you in this article.
There's a lot to consider when buying a new Android phone. Do you want a big screen? How much do you value camera performance? Are you a big-time gamer? Need a long battery life? We've compiled a list of Android phones to fit everyone's needs, regardless of your priorities or preferences.
If you're also open to non-Android devices, see our list of the best phones overall. Otherwise, keep on reading for our picks of the best Android phones in 2023.
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
Best Android phone overall
- Incredibly powerful processor
- Versatile telephoto zoom camera
- S Pen adds value
- Water-resistant and durable
- Long software update commitment
- Many interesting features to explore
- Large, bright, detailed screen
- Wired charging is complicated, and only 45W
- Big and heavy
Why you should buy this: It's an incredible smartphone that will last for years.
Who is it for?: Anyone who wants the very best Android phone money can buy.
Why we picked the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra:
Samsung has been improving the Galaxy Ultra formula for the past few years, and it may have peaked with the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra. Samsung's biggest, newest flagship is a masterpiece of design, with a powerful processor, exceptional camera, beautiful display, and many more appealing features. While the price is high, it's a phone that's sure to serve you well — and last for years to come.
We'll start with the camera, as it's one of the standout features. The S23 Ultra has a quad-lens setup and features a huge 200-megapixel main lens, along with a 10MP 10x periscope telephoto lens, a standard 3x telephoto lens, and a 12MP ultrawide lens. The new camera suite is a game-changer, but not for the reasons you might initially expect. Images taken at 200MP are stunning, but they're also huge, coming in at a hefty 40MB per shot. Instead, it's the zoom that makes the S23 Ultra so special. The 3x and 10x zoom options remain great, but the 30x option is catching up in quality. The 100x option is still not the best, but it's advanced far past what it used to be. Put simply, the S23 Ultra takes zoomed photos that just aren't possible on other smartphones. Even if zoomed photos aren't really your thing, it's still an exceptional setup with a lot of versatility.
As befits a flagship phone, the S23 Ultra is also packing some powerful specs. We've already been impressed by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 in the OnePlus 11, but the Galaxy S23 Ultra takes it to a whole other level. Despite pushing it with the most demanding tasks we could find, we don't think we even came close to the S23 Ultra's upper limit. There was very little heating from demanding games, and lag between tasks was nonexistent. The available storage starts at 256GB, and while that's a good amount for a modern flagship, consider upgrading if you want to regularly take 8K videos or 200MP images, as both take up a lot of space.
As with the previous S22 Ultra, the S23 Ultra comes with an S Pen, like the Note smartphones of old, and there's plenty you can do with this — from jotting down notes on the screen to quickly creating gifs from videos. The battery lasts a full day, and while the 45W charging isn't the fastest around, it's still good enough for most and recharges the battery quickly. On the subject of downsides, also keep in mind that this phone really fits the "ultra" tag. It's massive, and really quite heavy as well, so it's definitely not for those who want a smaller device.
There's so much we haven't touched on, like the gorgeous design and sublime display, but suffice it to say they're excellent. The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is certainly an expensive phone, but it's one that will definitely last you for years, and a good investment if you want a phone that's sure to last the distance.
OnePlus 11
Best Android phone runner-up
- Eye-catching design
- Two-day battery life
- 25 minute battery charging
- Characterful camera
- Long software update commitment
- No wireless charging
- Portrait camera disappoints
Why you should buy this: The OnePlus 11 delivers great specs and features for less money than the S23 Ultra.
Who it's for: Anyone who wants a quality Android phone that's not prohibitively expensive.
Why we picked the OnePlus 11:
While the Galaxy S23 Ultra may be the best Android phone overall, the OnePlus 11 is a close runner-up. It all starts with the OnePlus 11's hardware. A combination of a stainless steel frame and glass back results in a phone that feels wonderful to hold. The rear camera housing takes some getting used to, but it's bold, distinct, and stands out from the crowd. The best part? After removing it from the OnePlus 10T, the OnePlus 11 brings back the alert slider — and it's just as great as ever.
The OnePlus 11 pairs its good looks with extremely capable specifications. The 6.7-inch AMOLED display is a joy to look at, and the 120Hz refresh rate adds incredible fluidity to everything you do. That's also helped by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset powering the phone. Why? It's fast. No matter what app or game you throw at the OnePlus 11, it handles it with ease. But more so than that, it does so with good thermals and excellent power efficiency. Expect to get around two days of use per charge, and when the battery does eventually run out, 80W charging allows you to go from 0% to 100% in about 30 minutes. You don't get wireless charging on the OnePlus 11, and while that is annoying, the ultra-fast wired charging speeds help make up for it.
What about the cameras? The star of the show is the 50MP main camera. It produces images that are sharp, detailed, and have a distinct style to them — largely thanks to OnePlus's ongoing Hasselblad partnership. It's just so much fun to shoot with. The 48MP ultra-wide camera is also good, though the 32MP telephoto camera with its 2x optical zoom just can't compete with the zoom capabilities of other Android phones.
When using the OnePlus 11, you're interacting with OxygenOS 13. It's not as minimalistic as previous versions of OnePlus's software, but it's fast, fluid, and generally great to use. Even better, you're promised four major Android updates and five years of security patches. Add all of that together with a $699 starting price, and the OnePlus 11 easily stands tall as one of the best Android phones in 2023.
Google Pixel 7
Best value Android phone
- Superb camera
- Long battery life
- Eye-catching design
- Vibrant screen
- Years of software updates
- Fantastic price
- Slow charging
- Software bugs
- Poor gaming performance
Why you should buy this: The Pixel 7 features a winning combination of a great camera, long battery life, and a great software experience.
Who it's for: Anyone who seeks a reasonably priced smartphone with a great camera, excellent software, and respectable battery life.
Why we picked the Google Pixel 7:
This is a substantial smartphone at 8.7mm thick and 197 grams, encased in a smooth aluminum chassis and a Gorilla Glass Victus rear panel. It's a bit slippery, so it needs a firm grip and a case. The 6.3-inch AMOLED screen has a 90Hz refresh rate and a 2400 x 1080 pixel resolution with HDR10+.
Two cameras sit on the back — a 50MP f/1.9 aperture main camera with optical image stabilization (OIS) and laser autofocus, and a 12MP f/2.2 wide-angle camera. The main camera is one of the best cameras on a smartphone. It supports video at 4K resolution up to 60 frames per second and 10-bit HDR. The front carries a 10.8MP f/2.2 aperture selfie camera. The Pixel 7’s main camera produces sharp, visually punchy photos while Night Sight mode pictures bring out plenty of detail.
The Pixel 7 runs on Google’s new Tensor G2 processor and comes with 8GB of RAM and either 128GB or 256GB of storage. Android 13 comes installed. The handset only has a 4,355mAh battery, but that still provides robust all-day battery life.
There's no charger in the box, but the phone supports USB Power Delivery 3.0 and promises a 50% charge in 30 minutes.
Samsung Galaxy S23
Best small Android phone
- Sleek and compact design
- Comfortable for one-handed use
- Very fast performance
- Reliable cameras take great photos
- Long-lasting battery life
- Five years of guaranteed updates
- Base storage is still 128GB
- Fast charging up to only 25W
- Limited zoom quality past 10x
Why you should buy this: It's almost everything we love about the S23 Ultra, in a smaller package.
Who is it for?: Anyone who wants a small, but exceedingly powerful smartphone.
Why we picked the Samsung Galaxy S23:
The Galaxy S23 Ultra is the best Android phone, but it's going to be a little large for a number of people. Instead, those people should look at the Samsung Galaxy S23, which offers a lot of what makes the Ultra model great, but in a smaller package.
The 6.1-inch display is as gorgeous as Samsung's usually are, and it's as bright as it is vivid. The slim bezels mean it's compact, despite the screen's size, and the edges are flat, rather than curved like on the S23 Ultra. The smaller size means it's much easier to use in a single hand, unlike many modern smartphones, and it's lightweight too. The S23 is a bit on the slippery side, though, so a Galaxy S23 case would be a good idea — just for grip's sake.
The Galaxy S23 comes with the same Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy processor as its bigger siblings, so it's just as powerful and stupendously fast as the rest of the range. Unfortunately, there's a slight downgrade where storage options are concerned. The Galaxy S23 starts with 128GB of storage, compared to 256GB on the Ultra. 128GB is still a good amount of storage, but it's not really going to cut it if you take advantage of the S23's ability to shoot 8K video.
You'll want to take photos and videos with this phone, too. It has a triple-lens camera setup, comprised of a 50MP main lens, a 12MP ultrawide lens, and a 10MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom. While not as stunning as the Ultra's setup, it's still a great camera phone, producing lovely stills in a wide variety of circumstances. The zoom suffers due to the lower-spec telephoto lens, and it clearly can't match the S23 Ultra's improvements, but it's otherwise a great snapper — if you're okay with Samsung's usual oversaturation of colors in post-processing.
Battery life is excellent; we averaged about two days on a single charge, though that was without text messages or phone call use, so if you're particularly heavy on those, you may last closer to a single day. Recharging is less impressive, with the phone topping out at 25W. That'll give you a 50% charge in about 30 minutes, which is good, but there are much faster charging phones available, including the OnePlus 11 above.
Prices start from just $799, and the 256GB upgrade is available for just $60 extra, which is a worthwhile investment in our opinion. The Samsung Galaxy S23 is easily the best Android smartphone to buy right now if you're looking for a smaller phone, and a great phone in its own right as well.
Samsung Galaxy A53 5G
Best cheap Android phone
- Pretty design
- IP67 water-resistance
- Camera is great for social media
- Vibrant screen
- Two-day battery life
- Performance can be sluggish
- Not an upgrade to the A52 and A52S
Why you should buy this: The reasonably priced Galaxy A53 5G is a high-quality phone for any user that seeks good value.
Who it's for: Anyone wanting a budget phone with a stylish exterior and good performance.
Why we picked the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G:
In concert with its lower price, the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G is constructed of plastic and Gorilla Glass and measures 8.1mm thick at 189 grams. The plastic back does not look or feel cheap but rather has a pleasing, grippy texture, which conveniently repels fingerprints and smudges.
The phone runs on a Samsung Exynos 1280 octa-core processor and is available with 6GB or 8GB RAM and 128GB or 256GB of storage. It also has space for a MicroSD card slot. The 6.5-inch Super AMOLED screen has a 2400 x 1080 pixel resolution with a 120Hz refresh rate.
The Galaxy A53 5G's camera system looks stylish and works great. The four cameras include a 64MP main camera with an f/1.8 aperture, a 12MP wide-angle camera, and two 5MP cameras for macro and depth. There's also a 32MP selfie camera at the top center of the screen. Features include Night mode, Pro mode, Single Take mode, and video recording up to 4K and 30 fps or FHD at 60 fps. It includes various Snapchat Lenses and augmented reality effects.
The A53's 5,000mAh battery lasts for two days if you’re not a hardcore gamer.
Google Pixel 6a
Best affordable camera Android phone
- Compact, lightweight design
- IP67 water resistance
- Flagship-grade performance
- Excellent cameras
- Clean software
- Years of guaranteed updates
- Display is only 60Hz
- Tensor chip runs hot
- Lacking battery life
Why you should buy this: The Pixel 6a delivers a lot of phone for not much money and is an excellent value.
Who it's for: Anyone in the market for a new handset that needs to keep the price tag under $500.
Why we picked the Google Pixel 6a:
The Pixel 6a’s relatively petite form factor is derived from its 6.1-inch OLED panel — smaller than the 6.4 and 6.7-inch screens on siblings Pixel 6 and 6 Pro. The screen features an HD+ 1080 x 2400 pixel resolution, 60Hz refresh rate, and is covered with Corning Gorilla Glass 3. The back sports a two-tone design separated by Google’s distinctive top camera bar. The aluminum frame is durable while the plastic back is grippy and repels fingerprints.
The Google Tensor chip is exactly the same as in the flagship Pixel models and as a performer, it holds up to day-to-day tasks well with reliable multitasking, though the phone tends to run hot. The Pixel 6a now runs Android 13, and Google promises three years of OS upgrades and five years of security updates.
The Pixel 6a has a reliable camera phone setup. It packs an older 12.2MP camera featuring an f/1.7 aperture, optical image stabilization (OIS), and phase detection autofocus. It’s paired with a 12MP ultrawide camera with a 114-degree field of view, and an 8MP selfie camera. The phone captures great detail and punchy colors that aren’t overly vibrant and uses its HDR features judiciously.
The Pixel 6a runs on a 4,410mAh battery — not exactly a powerhouse — but more like a one-day smartphone for most users. The 18W wired charging is the only option, as the phone does not support wireless charging.
Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus
Best Android phone for battery life
- Comfortable, practical design
- Beautiful AMOLED display
- Outstanding performance
- Storage starts at 256GB
- Two-day battery life
- 45W wired charging
- Bland camera design
- Only 3x optical zoom
- Awkward price
Why you should buy this: It's a great balance between the S23 Ultra and S23, and has a reliable two-day battery life.
Who it's for: Anyone who wants a great phone that's capable of lasting a long time on a single charge.
Why we picked the Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus:
The Galaxy S23 range really is a great one this year, and while the Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus may be the weakest of the three, it still has some excellent reasons to buy it — not least of which is the excellent two-day battery life. If you're looking for a great Android smartphone with standout battery life, then check out the S23 Plus.
We'll start with the battery life, since it's the primary point of this category. The Galaxy S23 Plus sports a 4,700mAh battery. That's a slight upgrade over last year's S22 Plus, but less than the S23 Ultra's 5,000mAh battery. That smaller size doesn't mean worse battery life, though, as the S23 Plus is also capable of putting lasting for two days with moderate use. And even under heavy use it still gets a full day and change from a single charge, which certainly isn't to be sneered at. Charging also tops out at 45W, a very respectable speed, though it doesn't come with a charger, so you'll need to invest in one.
You'll find similar specs in the Galaxy S23 Plus as across the rest of the range, including a 120Hz display. That display is 6.6 inches, so slightly smaller than the Ultra's 6.8-inch display, but it shares the same tech, meaning it's just as vibrant and clear. The screen is flat, like the S23, and the design lacks the squared corners of the Ultra model as well, which could make the phone slightly easier to hold.
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy processor is extremely fast and powerful, and means you shouldn't have to upgrade for years. It should also be able to play the latest 3D games throughout that time with no problems. The S23 Plus starts at 256GB of storage as well, a big boost over the 128GB available in the S23.
The Galaxy S23 Plus is equipped with the same cameras as the Galaxy S23, and as a result, it takes excellent photos too. As with its smaller sibling, the zoom isn't as impressive as on the Ultra model, but it's certainly still a camera to be proud of — and one you won't regret getting.
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus starts from $999. It exists in a strange place being the middle child. But think of it as an upgraded version of the S23, with a larger display and battery, and you're thinking of it correctly. It's not as good as the S23 Ultra, but it's also a lot cheaper, with a lot of the same performance on offer.
Nothing Phone 1
Best designed Android phone
- Quirky and unusual design
- Slick, easy-to-use software
- Glyph Interface is eye-catching
- Main camera takes good photos
- Wireless charging
- Short battery life
- Inconsistent wide-angle camera
- Android 13 still in beta
Why you should buy this: Because it's like nothing else on the market, and a good phone to boot.
Who it's for: Someone who wants a phone that really stands out from the usual crowd.
Why we picked the Nothing Phone 1:
Outside of folding phones, it's fair to say smartphone design has grown a little stale. Carl Pei's Nothing has thrown a little spice into the recipe, though, with the Nothing Phone 1. While the silhouette is broadly the same as most other phones, the clear glass back and Glyph lighting mean the phone really stands out from the crowd.
The phone itself is well-sized and easily capable of being used one-handed by most people. The edges are a little sharp though, making extended periods of holding a bit more difficult. But forget all that, because it's the back that's the coolest part. Most of the components are covered, but the exposed wireless charging coil and panels give off strong sci-fi vibes. This is especially true thanks to the Glyph lights, which light up in different ways for different alerts and activities, including when the Google Assistant is being used. They can even be used instead of the camera's flash. They're something truly unique to Nothing, and a genuine reason to seriously consider the phone.
The Nothing Phone 1 is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G+, and it provides responsive and reliable performance. It does slow down when playing games, but otherwise, that chip and 8GB of RAM keep the phone running well. The 6.55-inch display has a 120Hz refresh rate, so it's super smooth, as well as looking great. The rear camera module has a 50MP main lens and a 50MP wide-angle lens, and it takes good photos. It's not likely to unseat any of the best camera phones, and it struggles at night, but it's still a capable camera with a lot to offer.
You'll get a day out of the Nothing Phone 1's battery, but nothing more. It's a phone you'll need to charge daily, and it also only has QuickCharge 3.0, which is a little underwhelming these days. Still, it's fine as long as you're happy to charge every day and keep a portable battery on you for more demanding days away from the charger.
Asus ROG Phone 6 Pro
Best gaming Android phone
- Immensely powerful
- Versatile shoulder buttons
- Clean, fast software
- Vibrant and big screen
- Great sounding audio
- Kunai 3 gamepad accessory
- Big and heavy
- Lacks wide appeal
- Average camera
Why you should buy this: This is the best gaming smartphone available today.
Who it's for: This phone is made for demanding, dedicated, and committed mobile gamers.
Why we picked the Asus ROG Phone 6 Pro:
The ROG Phone 6 Pro is a gaming smartphone — full stop. It’s tall, thick, and heavy at 10.3mm and 239 grams. Toting this phone around town takes effort: It weighs you down and takes up space. For gamers, that's good news.
The ROG Phone 6 runs on a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 processor and a 6.78-inch AMOLED screen — made specifically for the phone by Samsung. Fast, colorful, and bright, the screen features a dynamic 165Hz refresh rate and a 720Hz touch sampling rate. The Pro model packs 18GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. The adaptive refresh rate shifts between the lowest 60Hz setting to its 165Hz maximum. There's no problem using it outside in the sun. The ROG Phone 6 Pro has a 50-megapixel Sony IMX766 camera, a 13MP wide-angle camera, and a 5MP macro camera for decent snaps.
The gaming phone runs Android 12 and comes with the choice of a standard interface or Asus’s flashy, gaming interface. A massive 6,000mAh dual-cell battery is squeezed into the frame, and it delivers. There's enough power for three days of use with around two-to-three hours of screen time per day. Wired charging is rated at 65W, and with the included charger, it takes about 40 to 5 minutes to charge the battery.
OnePlus Nord N300 5G
Best Android phone under $250
- Sleek and lightweight design
- 90Hz refresh rate on a large 6.56-inch display
- Nice tactile haptics
- Great selfie camera
- Expandable storage via microSD
- 5,000mAh battery with 33W fast charging
- Lower-res screen resolution
- 2MP depth camera doesn't add much
- Won't get updates after Android 13
- Only available on T-Mobile
Why you should buy this: It has problems, but it's still a great smartphone for less than $250.
Who it's for: Someone who doesn't mind living with a few compromises, as long as they get a bargain Android phone.
Why we picked the OnePlus Nord N300 5G:
The budget smartphone market can be something of a minefield, and it's rare for a cheap smartphone to showcase good performance in a range of categories. The OnePlus Nord N300 5G is one of those rare smartphones, and it's the best Android phone you can buy for under $250.
The design is pretty much what you expect from a $250 phone. That is to say, it's made from plastic. It's good-looking plastic, has a slight shimmer like aluminum, and feels good in the hand too. The display is disappointing. It's only 720p, which means details can look a little soft on the 6.56-inch display. It has a 90Hz refresh rate, though, which is a very welcome (and surprising) addition.
Performance is good, even if it's not going to run 3D games without a little bit of lag from time to time. The main 48MP lens on the camera is good, even if it doesn't match real-life colors, but the 2MP depth lens is really quite pointless. But it's more than good enough for this price level. The same can be said for the battery, which lasted two days on a single charge, and has 33W fast charging.
It's not perfect, of course. As mentioned, the second camera lens might as well not exist, and the display is on the more disappointing side. However, even with these downsides in mind, the OnePlus Nord N300 5G is an excellent phone for the money. It'll cost you $228, but it's only available through T-Mobile and Metro.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4
Best foldable Android phone
- Usable cover screen
- Excellent multitasking features
- Inner screen is great for games and video
- Reliable and fun camera
- Water resistant and durable materials
- Heavy use kills the battery
- Slow charging
Why you should buy this: This is the first folding smartphone that is truly a mass-market product suitable for all users.
Who it's for: Multitaskers who like the flexibility of a large, but manageable screen.
Why we picked the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4:
The Z Fold 4 is the first genuine mass-market folding smartphone, and buyers should be ready to take into account the difference between a flagship folding phone and a single-screen or flip phone. The Z-Fold 4 is bulky and heavy at 263 grams and 15.8mm thick — when closed. The exterior has a 6.2-inch Dynamic AMOLED screen featuring a 2316 x 904-pixel resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate. The inside provides a 7.6-inch Dynamic AMOLED screen featuring a 120Hz refresh rate with a 2176 x 1812 resolution.
The Galaxy Z Fold 4 runs on Google’s Android 12L system and Samsung’s OneUI 4.1.1 interface. It's powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 processor with 12GB of RAM and 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB of internal storage.
The foldable phone is equipped with a 50MP main camera, a 12MP 123-degree wide-angle camera, and a 10MP telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom and 30x digital zoom. Video records at up to 8K at 24 frames per second or 4K at 30 or 60 fps. The phone gives you a Pro mode to assist both stills and video in addition to a night mode, Single Take, and portrait mode. The camera images for both the main and selfie cams are vibrant and colorful without oversaturation.
Multitasking is the standout advantage of this foldable, while a dual-cell 4,400 mAh battery is the weakest part of the package. You don’t get a charger in the box but you do get a USB Type-C cable, and the Z Fold 4 supports 25-watt charging. The phone also supports wireless charging, and the Wireless PowerShare feature will also charge a Qi-compatible device placed on the back of the phone.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4
Best flip phone Android phone
- Flatter design looks and feels fantastic
- Bespoke customization is unmatched
- Excellent main display
- Blazing fast performance
- Good, fun cameras
- Battery still only lasts a day
- Limited cover screen functionality
Why you should buy this: It is one of the best foldable phones you can buy today.
Who it's for: It appeals to the user who desires a compact, retro-style flip phone, but with modern-day accoutrements.
Why we picked the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4:
The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 is retro and revolutionary all at once, and for a folding phone, the Z Flip is as durable as they come. The glass panels and cover screen sport Corning Gorilla Glass Victus, while the frame is Samsung’s Armor Aluminum. The unit is protected by an IPX8 water-resistance rating that tolerates up to 1.5 meters of fresh water for up to 30 minutes, but there's no dust resistance.
When opened, the Z Flip 4 shows a 6.7-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel with a 2640 x 1080-pixel resolution, HDR10+, 1,200 nits of peak brightness, and a variable refresh rate that scales up to 120Hz. Colors are vibrant with wide viewing angles. The cover screen is a 1.9-inch Super AMOLED with 512 x 260 resolution. It runs on Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1. The camera system is fairly basic, offering a 12MP primary camera, a 12MP ultrawide camera, and a 10MP selfie camera.
Frequently Asked Questions
We've highlighted Samsung a lot above, and Samsung does make some of the best phones. But it depends on your price range. Samsung is the king of the higher Android price bracket, but head further down, and you start to notice the Google Pixels and other more modest budget models. The bigger names you recognize should definitely be preferred, as quality can be an issue when you start experimenting with obscure brands.
That said, you should not base a buying decision solely on a brand name, as any manufacturer can make a bad phone. Instead, check out individual phone reviews, and decide that way.
Price, screen size, camera capabilities, durability, and processing power are some of the most important factors to consider when buying a phone. If you work or game on your phone, you’ll want a device with speedy processing. If you take a lot of pictures or videos, the camera might be a make-or-break factor for you.
Android phones run on the Android operating system, while iPhones run on iOS. But this is only the beginning. Android phones typically offer USB-C charging, while Apple phones use Lightning chargers, at least for now. Users praise Apple for its clean interface, lack of bloatware, privacy, and ease of integration with other Apple devices. Users praise Android for its easy customization, integration with Windows and other devices, affordability, expansion, and innovation.
Most modern smartphones should last at least three years, and ideally up to five years. Google and Samsung both promise multiple years of updates and security patches.
Many Android phones offer exceptional cameras, including Google’s Pixel 6a, which we named the best camera-value Android phone in this list. The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra and the Google Pixel 7 also have stellar camera systems, producing some of the best photos you can get out of a smartphone.
A good phone’s battery should last you most of the day, and all the phones on this list meet that standard. However, be aware that high-intensity games, constant music or media streaming, videoconferencing, and other activities that work the processor will cause battery drain sooner. Note too that battery size is only one component of longevity. Most smartphone batteries are optimized to work with the phone's hardware and software for optimal performance.
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