The Android smartphones give you one large benefit over their iOS counterpart — selection. These gadgets come in numerous sizes and are manufactured by completely different corporations, which suggests you get extra OS customizations, quite a lot of specs, and naturally, foldable telephones just like the Galaxy Z Flip 3 and Z Fold 3. Many of these telephones include state-of-the-art options like quick 5G connectivity, vivid Super AMOLED shows, 120Hz refresh fee screens, giant batteries and a number of cameras.
But all that selection also can make the procuring expertise overwhelming and complicated, which is why we have rounded up our favourite picks. These telephones all have typically nice cameras, screens, battery life or the entire above. We additionally thought of options comparable to 5G and wi-fi charging. Read on to see our prime picks for the very best Android telephones and take a look at our tips about find out how to purchase a brand new cellphone, too. We’ll replace this checklist periodically as we overview new merchandise.
Lisa Eadicicco/CNET
Like:
• S Pen is included with the cellphone and there is a slot for storing it
• Great low-light pictures
• Closer zoom than most competing telephones
• Distinct design
Don’t like:
• Expensive
• Cameras are largely the identical as on the Galaxy S21 Ultra
• Battery life is not so long as the S21 Ultra
The $1,200 Galaxy S22 Ultra is among the costliest Android telephones on the market, however for good motive. It has an enormous 6.8-inch show, an S Pen stylus you’ll be able to retailer contained in the cellphone (similar to the Galaxy Note), and a four-lens digital camera with a zoom vary that is arduous to beat. Samsung additionally improved the way in which all of its new Galaxy telephones take images in low mild, which is particularly vital on a photography-oriented cellphone just like the Ultra.
The solely downsides? The S22 Ultra’s sky-high value and comparatively brief battery life. Still, the Galaxy S22 Ultra is the very best cellphone for individuals who need the most important display screen and among the best cameras accessible in a smartphone. You simply should be prepared to pay a better value for these perks.
Read our Galaxy S22 Ultra overview.
Lisa Eadicicco/CNET
Like:
• Bright display screen
• Good stability of display screen measurement and luxury
• Better digital camera with improved colour and distinction
• Attractive design
Don’t like:
• $1,000 remains to be costly for a cellphone
• Battery life is not so long as the iPhone 13 Pro’s
• No new built-in digital camera modes
• Fast charging requires a particular $50 adapter
The $1,000 Galaxy S22 Plus has the best stability of measurement, efficiency and digital camera efficiency for most individuals. The 6.6-inch display screen gives loads of house for many who desire larger-sized telephones however really feel just like the Ultra may be too overwhelming (and costly). The improve to a 50-megapixel digital camera additionally makes an enormous distinction in comparison with final 12 months’s Galaxy S21 lineup, particularly relating to colour and distinction in images.
My largest grievance is that the battery life was simply mediocre, though it did outlast the common Galaxy S22 and Galaxy S22 Ultra throughout CNET’s battery check. It additionally would have been good to see new options that make the most of the S22’s improved digital camera, particularly for the reason that S22 Plus is costlier than a number of telephones on this checklist. Still, the Galaxy S22 Plus has all the things most individuals want in a brand new cellphone.
Read our Galaxy S22 Plus overview.
Andrew Hoyle/CNET
Like:
• Excellent cameras
• Solid all-round efficiency
• Neat Android 12 interface
• Attractive design
Don’t like:
• Battery is sweet, however not nice
• Fast cost is not all that quick
• No face unlock
Google stayed out of the flagship section for a few years and spent the time making its personal chip that specialised in machine studying and synthetic intelligence. The Pixel 6 Pro packs all of it with a pictures prowess that is arduous to beat.
Google’s $899 higher-end cellphone nonetheless undercuts rivals on value whereas together with a lot worth. It is a giant cellphone, with a 6.7-inch display screen, which is pin-sharp because of its 3,120×1,440-pixel decision. It has an adaptive refresh fee that may go as much as 120Hz once you’re enjoying fast-paced video games, but additionally slows all the way down to solely 10Hz when the cellphone is mainly sitting idle. The 5,003-mAh battery ought to be good for a full day of combined utilization.
Patrick Holland/CNET
Like:
• Two-tone design
• Value for the worth
• The foremost digital camera is Google’s finest
Don’t like:
• Under-display fingerprint reader might be irritating
• Battery life is sweet, however arduous to get greater than a day
• The ultrawide digital camera is respectable however not on the identical stage as the primary digital camera
Google’s Pixel 6 is the smartphone to get if you need a giant display screen, flagship efficiency, among the finest cameras in the marketplace and a glance that distinguishes it from the competitors. Google prolonged its three years of OS and safety updates to 5, so it will final. In the US, the Pixel 6 is accessible each by means of Google and all main carriers.
The Pixel 6 has a 6.4-inch, 1080p display screen. It might be set to routinely swap from 60Hz to 90Hz relying on the content material onscreen. However, the fingerprint sensor is on the slower aspect. It comes with two rear cameras: the primary digital camera with a wide-angle lens and a second digital camera with an ultrawide-angle lens.
If you’ve $599 and are searching for a brand new cellphone, the Pixel 6 is our advice.
Lisa Eadicicco/CNET
Like:
• Improved digital camera with higher low-light pictures
• Elegant design
• Great measurement for individuals who desire smaller telephones
Don’t like:
• Battery life might be higher
Finding a smaller-sized Android cellphone isn’t any straightforward activity today. Most telephones include screens which can be at the least 6.4 inches or bigger, leaving individuals who desire petite telephones with few choices. The $800 Galaxy S22 checks that field. It has all the things we beloved in regards to the Galaxy S22 Plus — an attention grabbing design, a wonderful digital camera system with a 50-megapixel foremost lens and a pointy display screen — however in a extra pocket-friendly measurement.
Still, the Galaxy S22 falls brief in the identical space as its pricier siblings: battery life. I used to be capable of get by means of a full day with the S22’s refresh fee set to adaptive, which cranks it as much as 120Hz for smoother scrolling, however solely barely. That stated, the S22’s battery life may be sufficient for some folks, particularly those that spend most of their day at dwelling or in the workplace with a charger close by. The Galaxy S22 is in any other case a stable selection for any Android person, however particularly these searching for a smaller-sized cellphone.
Read our Galaxy S22 overview.
Like:
• Nice display screen
• Speedy efficiency
• IP67 waterproof
• Affordable value
Don’t like:
• No wi-fi charging
• 5G help in the US is unclear
While the next-gen Pixel 6 is accessible now, if you need 5G on a budget the Pixel 5A 5G remains to be a stable selection. This Pixel cellphone has good battery life and nice rear cameras, and at $449 it is among the best, most cost-effective methods of getting 5G.
Read our Google Pixel 5A overview.
Andrew Lanxon/CNET
Like:
• Classy design
• Powerful efficiency
• All-day battery life
• Vibrant display screen
Don’t like:
• Disappointing digital camera
• Waterproof score restricted to T-Mobile-exclusive fashions
• Lacks 80-watt quick charging in the US
The OnePlus 10 Pro earned a superb rating in our overview because of its slick design, its highly effective efficiency and its price ticket, which undercuts its foremost rivals. It wants a couple of enhancements — most notably to the digital camera, which is sweet, however not nice — however this flagship presents an incredible general expertise. If you are after a top-end 5G cellphone that is a bit completely different to your folks’ iPhones and Galaxy telephones then it is a stable possibility to think about.
Sarah Tew/CNET
Like:
• 120Hz cowl display screen
• Water resistance
• Wonderful pill expertise
• S Pen is a blast to make use of
• Software enhancements for multitasking and Flex Mode
Don’t like:
• Battery life lasts a few day
• Weird, heavy cellphone when closed
• $1,800 remains to be costly
Foldable telephones have not actually hit the mainstream, remaining as an alternative solely in the attain of these prepared to spend prime greenback on the latest in cell innovation. Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 3 is the very best folding cellphone round, providing top-notch efficiency, an incredible digital camera setup and quite a lot of tweaks to its folding expertise that make this Android smartphone extra fascinating than its predecessor.
Read our Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 overview.
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Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra Review: The Galaxy Note Lives…
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