We take a look at a ton of Android telephones. We like those beneath, however you may be higher off with one of many choices above. If you have not but achieved so, take a look at our Best Cheap Phones guide for extra.
Google Pixel 6A for $349: Google’s persevering with to promote the 2022 Pixel 6A (8/10, WIRED Recommends) at a marked-down value (strive to not pay greater than $300). It is nonetheless glorious worth and a worthy buy. It is powered by Google’s first-gen Tensor chip, which suggests you are getting a few of the finest efficiency for the cash, and it helps all the identical nice (and useful) software smarts because the flagship Pixel 6 series. It is bought an OLED display, an honest digital camera system, and prolonged software program assist. There is not any wi-fi charging and it has a 60-Hz display.
Google’s Pixel 7 for $449 and Pixel 7 Pro for $649: The 2022 Pixel 7 sequence (8/10, WIRED Recommends) are good buys if you’ll find them at these costs (or decrease). The Pixel 7 provides you virtually every thing you’d need, from wi-fi charging to a 90-Hz screen refresh rate. The Pixel 7 Professional is even larger with a 6.7-inch display and it has a 120-Hz refresh charge. Each function Face Unlock, however this is not safe just like the model on the Pixel 8, so you may should depend on the fingerprint sensor to entry delicate apps. Cameras are a giant a part of Pixels, and the Pixel 7 Professional outshines its sibling with an upgraded ultrawide with autofocus, enabling a Macro Focus mode for close-ups. Its telephoto digital camera has additionally improved, with glorious 5X optical zoom. These Pixels will obtain 4 extra years of safety updates, which is nice, however solely two extra OS upgrades, which is not so good as the newest fashions.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 for $1,499: The Fold5 (7/10, WIRED Recommends) stays a wonderful big-screen folding smartphone. The cameras can take some nice pictures, the shows can get shockingly vivid, and Samsung guarantees prolonged software program assist. However the introduction of the Pixel Fold has proven me how far more I want the broader entrance display. The Fold5’s exterior display feels too slim, and a few apps really feel squished (although it is a little bit simpler to understand when closed). There aren’t too many adjustments from its predecessor, which means it’s nonetheless a good suggestion to purchase the Fold4 at a discount if you happen to actually wish to enter the folding telephone world.
OnePlus 11 5G for $600: This OnePlus 11 (7/10, WIRED Recommends) is incessantly offered at this value, so keep away from the MSRP. It is a velocity demon, nevertheless it is not my first selection of telephone, neither is it my second. It feels tremendously fluid and responsive, due to the top-end Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset inside (and all the opposite optimizations), and it recharges so rapidly with the included adapter and cable—you possibly can go from 0 to 100 in roughly 20 minutes. It is bought a surprising 120-Hz 6.7-inch AMOLED display, good stereo audio system, and a dependable battery that simply lasts greater than a full day. Even the Hasselblad-tuned cameras produce some good outcomes, and OnePlus is now matching Samsung with a promise of 4 years of Android OS upgrades and 5 years of safety updates (although these are bimonthly as a substitute of month-to-month). It isn’t all rosy although. There is not any wi-fi charging, no assist for millimeter-wave 5G, and the water resistance is simply IP64 when almost each telephone at this value has an IP67 rating (rated to outlive submersions). The general software program interface additionally is not my favourite. However hey, at the very least it is fairly! It really works on all three main US networks.
Sony Xperia 1 V for $1,398: Sony’s newest flagship telephone (7/10, WIRED Review) is tremendous costly. But it surely’s one of many few smartphones with a 4K OLED display, and it is uncommon to see a high-end telephone with a headphone jack. There are lots of toys for digital camera nerds, whether or not you wish to seize a photograph with guide settings or use Sony’s Cinema Professional app to seize cinematic footage. You possibly can even use the telephone as an exterior monitor in your digital camera. It is a disgrace Sony has a brief software program replace coverage, and its digital camera system remains to be too clunky.
OnePlus 10 Pro for $450: OnePlus’ 2022 flagship telephone is nice however not nice (7/10, WIRED Recommends), although it is a good purchase at this value. It is spiffy and has highly effective {hardware}, together with a 120-Hz AMOLED screen that will get vivid, speedy efficiency, and a few of the quickest wired and wi-fi charging you may discover within the US. (Sure, not like the OnePlus 11, the older telephone has wi-fi charging assist). It’s going to get two extra OS upgrades and three years of safety updates. You must know that there isn’t any millimeter-wave 5G right here, simply sub-6, which is odd for a flagship.
Lenovo ThinkPhone by Motorola for $700: This Motorola telephone is a collaboration with Lenovo’s ThinkPad division, maker of the famed enterprise laptops with the little crimson nubs. It is a fairly good telephone all-around (7/10, WIRED Recommends), with options like flagship efficiency, two-day battery life, and an OLED 144-Hz display, nevertheless it simply would not measure as much as its friends at this value.
Motorola Edge+ 2023 for $800: A Motorola smartphone with contactless fee assist, 5G, wi-fi charging, plus a promise of three OS upgrades and 4 years of safety updates? Say it ain’t so! The Motorola Edge+ lastly matches its friends on a number of counts and exceeds them in some methods. It has a vivid 165-Hz OLED display, it is light-weight, and its 5,100-mAh battery simply lasts two days. The draw back? The cameras are not so good as the cheaper Pixel 7A. Learn our Best Motorola Phones guide for extra picks.
OnePlus Nord N30 5G for $300: This OnePlus telephone (6/10, WIRED Review) would not break the mildew, and it’s best to completely pay up for a Pixel 6A or any of the telephones above if you happen to can. But when your finances is admittedly tight and this telephone goes on sale, it does the job. Efficiency is nice, and there is two-day battery life.
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