When it comes to smartphones there are two major types of phone you can choose: Apple’s iPhone, which is built on its iOS operating system (OS), or an Android phone. These are produced by various manufacturers and run on Google’s Android OS.
But which Android smartphone rates best?
Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra - 5/5 stars
Screen size: 6.8”
Max camera resolution (Megapixels): 108MP
Max RAM: 16GB
Price: £1,329
Our Verdict
Samsung is the leading Android brand and its S21 Ultra stands out for its innovative, cutting-edge technology.
A whopping 16GB of RAM and 512GB of ROM provide ample memory for handling demanding apps and storing media. With a 6.8” 3200 x 1400 display and 120Hz refresh rate, it is the only smartphone to get as close to crystal-clear 4K viewing.
When recording video, this increases to 8K resolution, beyond the output capabilities of most televisions, but ideal for producing brilliantly sharp stills. Choose from five lenses to take photos with up to 108MP resolution.
More Details
- Max storage capacity: 512GB
- Screen resolution: 3200 x 1440
- Screen PPI: 515
- Display refresh rate: 120Hz
- CPU speed: 2.9GHz
- Battery capacity: 5,000mAh
- Camera F-stop range: f1.8 – 4.9
- Max camera zoom: 100x
Google Pixel 6 Pro - 5/5 stars
Screen size: 6.7”
Max camera resolution (Megapixels): 50MP
Max RAM: 12GB
Price: £849
Our Verdict
The premium version of Google’s latest flagship smartphone, the Google Pixel 6 Pro, is the the cheapest flagship Android device from any manufacturer in our list and offers the purest experience of the search giant’s operating system, plus hardware to compete with its more expensive rivals.
Its 6.7” OLED display refreshes at 120Hz and has 24-bit depth capable of displaying 16 million colours for true-to-life photos and videos. Its more-than-capable 5,003mAh battery slightly beats Samsung’s best and will get you, according to Google, more than 24 hours’ use from a single charge.
And where its specs appear to fall short of the competition on paper, Google says its proprietary Tensor chipset within the handset optimises everything to the fullest, as Apple does with its proprietary Bionic processors.
More Details
- Max RAM: 12GB
- Max storage capacity: 256GB
- Screen resolution: 1440 x 3120
- Screen PPI: 512
- Display refresh rate: 120Hz
- CPU speed: 2.8GHz
- Battery capacity: 5,003mAh
- Camera F-stop range: f1.85 – 3.5
- Max camera zoom: 20x
OnePlus 9 Pro - 4/5 stars
Screen size: 6.7”
Max camera resolution (Megapixels): 50MP
Max RAM: 12GB
Price: £929
Our Verdict
OnePlus has come to be known for its value-for-money smartphones. The OnePlus 9 Pro is no exception with OxygenOS, an updated version of Android 11, providing more options to customise the phone than a typical Android device.
A 6.7” AMOLED display with 3216 x 1440 megapixels, a refresh rate of 120Hz and 4,500mAh battery maintain the high calibre expected of a flagship phone, while 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage is decent for £929.
In addition to its Sony 50MP wide-angle lens, 48MP main lens and 8MP telephoto lens, a 2MP monochrome lens sets this device apart from the others.
More Details
- Max storage capacity: 256GB
- Screen resolution: 3216 X 1440
- Screen PPI: 525
- Display refresh rate: 120Hz
- CPU speed: 2.82GHz
- Battery capacity: 4,500mAh
- Camera F-stop range: f1.8-2.4
- Max camera zoom: 30x
Oppo Find X3 Pro - 4/5 stars
Screen size: 6.7”
Max camera resolution (Megapixels): 50MP
Max RAM: 12GB
Price: £1099
Our Verdict
Oppo has secured its place in the premium smartphone market with its Find X3 showing off how innovative the brand is. If its 6.7” display with a 3216 x 1440 resolution and adaptive refresh rate spanning 10 to 120Hz isn’t impressive enough, the brand claims the display can output 1 billion colours compared to 16 million for an average smartphone.
Then there’s the added customising options thanks to its most up-to-date OS software, and its impressive camera system. Its Sony main lens and wide-angle lenses take photos with a 50MP resolution and a 13MP telephoto lens comes equipped with a ring-light to enhance the most minute of details.
Battery capacity and zoom capability may leave a lot to be desired but the Find X3’s compact design and smooth exterior even compete with the likes of the Samsung Galaxy S21.
More Details
- Max storage capacity: 256GB
- Screen resolution: 3216 x 1440
- Screen PPI: 525
- Display refresh rate: 120Hz
- CPU speed: 2.84GHz
- Battery capacity: 4,500mAh
- Camera F-stop range: f1.8-3.0
- Max camera zoom: 60x
Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra - 4/5 stars
Screen size: 6.8”
Max camera resolution (Megapixels): 50MP
Max RAM: 12GB
Price: £1,119
Our Verdict
Xiaomi turns the idea of what constitutes an Android smartphone on its head. Its Mi 11 Ultra includes personal touches such as unique quick access settings thanks to its MIUI interface which works on top of the Android OS. However, users may not appreciate the integrated adverts displayed in apps, due to this same customisation.
A spectacular 6.8” AMOLED display with 515 pixels per inch (PPI) and adaptive refresh rate of up to 120Hz adjusts to how you are using the device in order to maximise battery efficiency.
The flagship’s three rear lenses have a maximum resolution of 50MP and 120x zoom, and a 1.1” AMOLED display on the back of the phone helps to achieve the perfect selfies when not displaying notifications.
More Details
- Max storage capacity: 512GB
- Screen resolution: 3200 x 1440
- Screen PPI: 515
- Display refresh rate: 120Hz
- CPU speed: 2.84GHz
- Battery capacity: 5,000mAh
- Camera F-stop range: f1.95-2.2
- Max camera zoom: 120x
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Which Android smartphone is the best?
If price isn’t a factor, we think most will not be disappointed by the performance of the Samsung Galaxy Ultra. A lower priced alternative would be the OnePlus 9 Pro.
How is the security on Android smartphones?
All the smartphones listed have a full-disk encryption setting and biometric security, such as facial recognition or a fingerprint scanner.
Early security glitches in Androids have been fixed over the years to the point that these phones are safe unless you choose to do something that will compromise their security as a user, such as to allow your phone to install apps from untrustworthy sources.
Which Android smartphones have the wireless charging feature?
Our top five Android handsets all can be charged wirelessly. Here are all the other Android smartphones you can charge wirelessly too:
- Samsung Galaxy S21, S21+
- Samsung Galaxy Fold/Z Fold 2 5G
- Samsung Galaxy Z Flip/Flip 5G
- Samsung Galaxy Note 20/Note 20 Ultra
- Samsung Galaxy S20, S20 Ultra, S20 FE Edition
- Samsung Galaxy Note 10, Note 10 Plus, Note 10 Plus 5G
- Samsung Galaxy S10, S10 Plus, S10e, S10 5G
- Samsung Galaxy Note 9
- Samsung Galaxy S9 /S9+
- Google Pixel 4/4 XL
- Google Pixel 3/3 XL
- Xiaomi Mi 10T Pro
- Xiaomi Mi 10, Mi 10 Pro, 10 Lite
- Xiaomi Mi 9, Mi 9 Pro
- Xiaomi Mi Mix 3
- Huawei P40, P40 Pro
- Huawei P30, P30 Pro
- Huawei Mate 20, Mate 20 Pro, Mate 20 RS Porsche Design
- Huawei Mate 30, Mate 30 Pro, Mate 30 RS
- Huawei Honor V30 Pro
- OnePlus 8 Pro
- OnePlus 9
Which Android smartphones are waterproof?
The smartphones to make this list, and many other Android handsets, all have an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance meaning they can withstand being submerged in 1.5m of water for up to 30 minutes.
Can I play Fortnite on all new Android smartphones?
You can play Fortnite on all the smartphones on our list. Generally, you need a handset with Android 8 Oreo or higher (64-bit), 4GB of RAM or more, 3GB of available storage, Adreno 530 or higher and Mali-G71 MP20 or Mali-G72 MP12 or higher.
Can I use AirPods with Android smartphones?
You can connect your AirPods to your Android device using Bluetooth, although they will not have full functionality as they would paired with an iPhone.
Does FaceTime work on an Android Smartphone?
While FaceTime is exclusive to Apple products, there are other similar video calling services you can use such as WhatsApp, Google Duo, Zoom, Microsoft Teams and more.
