11 Best Android Phones of 2025, Tested and Reviewed

Other phones to consider

Google Pixel 9.

Photo: Julian Chokkattu

We test a lot of Android phones. We like the ones below, but you’ll be better off with one of the options above. If you haven’t already, check out ours The best cheap phones and The best foldable phone guides for more.

Google Pixel 9 for $799: The Pixel 9 is a really great smartphone (9/10, WIRED recommends), but between the Pixel 8A and Pixel 9 Pro series, it struggles to stand out. It shares many features with its more expensive siblings, but you can get a lot similar experience with the Pixel 8A while saving hundreds of dollars. If you like the design and want the new smart software features, don’t let me stop you! But it might be wiser to wait for the Pixel 9A this spring.

Samsung Galaxy S24 FE for $650: Samsung’s Galaxy S24 FE is in a similar boat to the Pixel 9. It’s too close in price to the flagship Galaxy S24 series, which you can find on sale for not much more, and there are cheaper phones that are just cheaper. good price. It is a perfectly capable smartphone with a triple camera setup (including a 3X telephoto camera) and delivers good performance. It has wireless charging, is IP68 waterproof and has a solid all-day battery life. Too bad the design is a bit boring.

Google Pixel 8 for $499 and Pixel 8 Pro for $599: Pixel 8 or Pixel 8 Pro (7/10, WIRED recommends) from 2023. are still available for purchase and are great devices with plenty of life left. Just make sure you don’t spend more than $600. Anything more and you should just buy from the new Pixel 9 series.

Honor Magic V3 for £1,799: If you’re outside the US, the Magic V3 might be the best foldable phone right now; it’s certainly the world’s thinnest foldable phone (8/10, WIRED recommends). It has great battery life, a wide outer screen that feels like a normal phone, and a large inner screen when unfolded. Even the cameras are versatile, although the ultra-wide isn’t great, and the phone’s overall software can cause some problems.

Photo: Julian Chokkattu

OnePlus 12 for $800 and OnePlus 12R for $600: OnePlus reconnected with its roots in 2024, offering killer specs at surprisingly low prices. The OnePlus 12R is better priced than the OnePlus 12 (8/10, WIRED recommends), but you should only buy these phones if you can catch them on sale. Otherwise, just buy the latest OnePlus 13 and 13R as they don’t cost much more.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 for $1,900: The Fold6 (7/10, WIRED recommends) is an excellent foldable smartphone with a large screen. If you’re worried about durability and repairability when buying a foldable, Samsung is your best bet since they’ve been making these devices for the longest time. The cameras take great pictures, the displays get shockingly bright, and Samsung promises long-term software support. The Fold6’s external screen is slightly wider and much nicer to use than previous iterations, but otherwise there aren’t many new changes outside of the AI ​​improvements. You can still get last year’s Galaxy Z Fold5 to save some dough.

Photo: Julian Chokkattu

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip6 for $1100: The Flip6 (7/10, WIRED recommends) has some advantages over Motorola’s new Razr+, such as a nicer hinge mechanism, better build quality, stronger cameras, and longer software support. But I still preferred the overall experience of the Motorola Flip, mostly because of the larger external screen. Still, the Flip6’s 3.4-inch rooftop screen is handy for viewing widgets, and you can flip it open to enjoy a big Android phone screen. The Galaxy Z Flip5 is a decent option if you don’t mind buying last year’s tech at a lower price.

Mobile accessories you may need

Peak Design Galaxy S24 Ultra case.

Photo: Julian Chokkattu

We have case recommendations for several popular devices, such as those from Samsung Galaxy S24, Galaxy S23, and Gamma S22 or Google’s Pixel 9 series. It’s smart to put a case on those glass sandwiches and even a screen protector to protect the display from scratches and scuffs. Here are some other notable accessories, including charging adapters that many phones don’t turn it on anymore. Read ours A guide to the best USB-C cables for other recommendations.

Anker 45-watt charger for $20: This small charger will be all most people need to charge most smartphones. It’s compact, reliable and cheap, plus the tines fold up. More smartphones than ever can reach 45W charging speeds, so take advantage with a 45W charger.

Counterpart The Charger for $44: It’s not the best price, but this newly designed charger has a retractable 4-foot cable, making it a fantastic two-in-one – no need to pack a separate charger and cable! It puts out 35 watts, which is enough to quickly charge most phones and tablets, and the prongs fold up for travel.

Peak Design Samsung and Pixel Everyday Case for $50: If you have Samsung or pixel phone and you often mount your phone on a bike or scooter, you owe it to yourself to get this case and Peak Design Bike Stand. The case clicks perfectly into the stand, releases extremely easily and has yet to fall off after years of riding. Peak Design also sells several other accessories you can attach to the back of these cases, inserting Android Apple’s MagSafe ecosystem.

Nimble Champ 10,000mAh Portable Charger for $60: This portable battery is small enough to leave in a bag, but has enough power to fully charge your phone once or twice. It has a USB-C and USB-A port, delivers 18 watts of power so it can recharge your tablet or phone, and is housed in 73 percent plastic after use with plastic-free packaging.

Nomad ChargeKey for $25: When your phone breaks, it’s almost always when you forget to take a charger or battery. The ChargeKey is a nifty solution – it’s like attaching a small USB-C charging cable to your keychain. Just plug one end into your phone and the other into any power source (a friend’s phone or a charging adapter if you can find one) and you can recharge your phone. Native Union also has a similar item it’s sweeter, but just as capable.

Choose a wireless charger: Our guide to the best wireless chargers includes dozens of models in a variety of colors, shapes and materials, and even some designed for specific phones. Not every Android phone supports wireless charging, but it’s a luxury you’ll want to take advantage of. Check out our guide to our favorites.