The best Android phones

The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G’s cutting-edge rear Quad camera system with 108-megapixel Ultra Wide, 12-megapixel Wide-angle and two 10-megapixel Telephoto cameras is paired with a 40-megapixel Selfie camera – we think it’s one of the best camera phones you can buy. The Samsung Galaxy A32 5G, a recent addition to Samsung’s A Series, has a rear Quad camera with 48-megapixel Main, 8-megapixel Ultra Wide, 5-megapixel Macro and 2-megapixel Depth cameras. Both phones have Portrait mode and Night Mode to get stunning shots wherever you are – there’s even a Food mode to snap Insta-worthy treats.

The OPPO Find X3 Pro is just as impressive, with a rear Ultra HD Quad camera setup with 50-megapixel Main, 50-megapixel Ultra Wide, 13-megapixel Telephoto and 3-megapixel Macro cameras that have Beautification Mode for flattering portraits – and Night Mode too. AI Scene Enhancement adjusts colour tones depending on where you are, and Cinematic Mode adds artificial colour reproduction to video, to give your shots a professional look and feel.

If you find an Android phone you love with a triple-lens camera, like the Xiaomi Mi 11 or Sony Xperia 1 II 5G, know that their cameras are just as good. The rule of thumb is that cameras with more lenses are normally superior… but go for the phone with a camera setup that focuses on the features you want. For example, if you want to take close-ups with zoom, a triple-lens camera that includes a telephoto lens might be better than a quad-lens device that’s built for wide-angle photography. It’s not about how many lenses are on the phone - it’s how you use them.

Hardworking processors mean silky-smooth streaming and high-quality gaming. The OPPO Find X3 Pro and Xiaomi Mi 11 series all come with a Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 888 processor - widely seen as the go-to premium processor for 2021. This hardworking chip means faster interactions, better gaming, superb photography and 5G speed* with minimal lag.

The Samsung S21 series comes with a Exynos 2100 processor, which offers slightly better CPU performance than the Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 888, but a Snapdragon processor has the edge on GPU performance. The Exynos 2100 processor offers powerful computing, gaming, AI, and camera functions. It’s 8K TV-out-ready, so you can watch 8K video shot on smartphones from the sofa.

The Xiaomi Mi 10T Pro 5G has a high-capacity 5,000mAh battery built to go the distance, with the potential for 34 days of standby time. This battery is designed to outperform the competition and could last for up to 3 years before it begins to lose its charge, and has AI battery optimisation for longer use.

The Samsung Galaxy A12, Galaxy A42 5G, Galaxy A32 5G and Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G also come with 5,000mAh batteries. The S21 Ultra 5G offers 25W Super Fast Charging, 15W Fast Wireless Charging and Wireless PowerShare, the A42 5G has 15W Fast Charging, and the A32 5G and A21 have 15W Adaptive Fast Charging.

The motorola moto g 5G plus also has a 5,000mAh battery that is designed to last for up to 3 days on a single charge.

There are a ton of great Android phones on offer if you’re after a great gaming experience. The Samsung Galaxy S21 5G series offers superfast 5G speed* with superb graphics, a 120Hz refresh rate for silky scrolling, Dynamic AMOLED 2x displays and Exynos 2100 processors for a totally immersive gaming experience.

The OPPO Find X3 series is also a great choice for serious gamers. The OPPO Find X3 Pro's responsive 1 Billion Colour Display and next generation Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 888 Processor were made for clear, crisp, lag-free graphics with a smooth 120Hz refresh rate. You can even charge up in a flash with 65W SuperVOOC 2.0 Fast Charging, so your battery won't stop you reaching the next level.

There’s no denying that flagship 5G devices have it all when it comes to the latest features – however, there are plenty of cheaper options available if you want 5G speeds on Android without the premium price tag. These devices still pack a punch, with impressive displays, powerful processors, and professional-grade cameras.

The Xiaomi Mi 10T Lite has a 64-megapixel AI-enhanced Quad camera with Ultrawide, Macro and Depth cameras. Enjoy super-smooth entertainment on the 6.67-inch display with 120Hz refresh rate, powered by a 4,820mAh fast-charging battery.

The Nokia 8.3 5G lets you film 4K footage with built-in ZEISS Cinematic effects and add anamorphic and blue flares for an authentic look and feel, then edit with colour grading tools. Then, watch your content back on the 6.81-inch screen and use the 64-megapixel quad camera with Ultrawide, Macro and Depth cameras for phenomenal shots.

There are several Android smartphones with superb displays, easy-to-use interfaces and the kind of tech which seemed unbelievable a few years ago. However, in terms of best overall Android experience, we’ve gone with the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G.

A stylish, sleek design packed full of incredible features, Samsung’s 2021 flagship device has a 108-megapixel Quad rear camera, a 6.8-inch AMOLED Dynamic 2X display, an adaptable 120Hz refresh rate for smooth scrolling and an ultrafast Exynos 2100 processor. It runs on Android 11, which offers better support and security, as well as the usual Google apps and functionality you’d expect from a Samsung device. It weighs just 228g, so slips easily into a pocket or bag, and you can even use the S Pen to draw, write, and remotely take photos or control PowerPoint presentations†.

† S Pen is sold separately