From foldables to new phones from Samsung, Google and Motorola, these are the best Android phones of 2024.
There are many fantastic Android phones on the market, including flagship and budget models from brands like Samsung, Google or OnePlus. That can also make the buying process more difficult since it can be hard to know where to start. CNET is here to help. We've researched and tested all the best Android phones you can buy in 2024.
A great phone should have high-quality cameras, long battery life, compelling software features and 5G support. We considered these factors when putting together our list of the best Android phones in 2024, which you can check out below. The CNET team updates this list periodically as we review new products.
The $800 Samsung Galaxy S24's battery life is amazing. That's not the only reason it's our pick for best Android phone. It gets seven years of major Android updates and the cameras are good (there's even a 3x telephoto lens for zooming). Then there are all the AI features: most are just OK, but Circle to Search is outstanding. Samsung didn't reinvent the phone, but it did take a great phone (the Galaxy S23) and make it better.
There are plenty of other excellent choices out there, although the Pixel 8 is our current favorite.
What impresses me the most about the Samsung Galaxy S24 isn't the new Galaxy AI features, brighter screens or solid cameras. It's the battery life. After testing, I can say the larger battery in the Galaxy S24 has no trouble plowing through a long day of use on a single charge.
The S24 is a wonderful, well-built phone that is excellent right out of the box just as the nearly identical S22 and S23 were before it. This similarity to the S22 and S23 can be viewed as either a strength because the design reflects three years of refinements, or a weakness because features like the camera hardware are essentially identical to what came out in 2022. All of these features are overshadowed by the battery life. you'll never hear anyone complain about getting too much battery life. Read our Samsung Galaxy S24 review.
The Pixel 8 has many of the features of the more expensive Pixel 8 Pro but comes in a slightly smaller package and with a smaller price tag to match. You'll find the Tensor G3 processor on board, along with Android 14 software that includes AI tools like the generative image wallpaper creator. It also comes with the same guarantee of at least seven years of security updates so this phone will still be going strong in 2030 -- as long as you look after it.
The rear cameras are more cut back here though, as the...
With a sharper 5x optical zoom, a faster new processor and that familiar giant display and 100x digital zoom, the Samsung’s “Ultra” phone remains a top choice for mobile photographers who want plenty of screen space. The Galaxy S24 Ultra is also one of the first phones with Samsung’s new Galaxy AI features, which include tools for translating text messages and phone calls instantly and Circle to Search, a new gesture that lets you launch a Google search for almost anything simply by drawing a circle around it. Like the ...