Is Now a Good Time to Buy?
Yes. Many of the phones in this guide are the latest models weâve tested, but more importantly, thereâs a strong chance that prices of electronics like smartphones, laptops, and tablets will start creeping up over the coming months due to the heavy China tariffs. Itâs an evolving situation, but itâs smart to buy a new smartphone now (if you need to upgrade), instead of waiting and ending up having to pay an absurd price.
We recommend unlocked phones in this guide. When a phone is sold as unlocked, that means it can be used on multiple wireless carriers and networks. When you buy a phone directly from your wireless carrier, usually on a payment plan, it often comes locked to that network.
Carriers are legally required to unlock a phone upon request so you can switch networks, but itâs a big hassle. Try to pay full price for your phone, or make sure it specifically says itâs unlocked. Buy it from the manufacturer directly, or investigate your carrierâs policies for unlocking phones if theyâre bought on a payment plan that requires you to use its network. Itâs less of a hassle when you travel and want to switch to an international SIM card too.
Android Specs to Look For
If none of the smartphones in this guide strike your fancy and you want to keep looking, here are a couple of things to keep in mind as you shop.
Display size: You hold a smartphone all the time, so make sure whatever you pick is the right size for your palms. Most small Android phones are around 6.1 to 6.3 inches (measured diagonally), whereas larger phones typically top out at 6.8 or 6.9 inches.
Processor: Most smartphones are powered by a Qualcomm or MediaTek processor. Google phones use the companyâs in-house Tensor chip, and some Samsung phones utilize Samsungâs Exynos processor in select markets. Itâs difficult to say how reliably a processor will perform without looking at reviews and benchmark results, so do your research. If youâre after reliable performance, try to stick to Qualcommâs Snapdragon 7 series or higher, or MediaTekâs Dimensity 7000 series or higher.
RAM: Youâll at the very least want a phone with 6 GB of RAM, though 8 GB would be better. This will let you juggle multiple apps much more seamlessly. If you want to future-proof your device, opting for 12 or 16 GB will likely allow you to better access new and upcoming artificial intelligence features, though it depends on the manufacturer and how well they support their devices.
Cooling: Good-performing phones can be ruined if they get too hot because then the processor gets throttled, causing slowdowns. This mostly applies to folks who game a lot, but itâs worth checking whether thereâs a dedicated cooling system on the phone. Youâll want to look for language like âheat pipesâ or âvapor chamber cooling.â
Refresh rate: Most phones used to come with 60-Hz refresh rates, meaning the display refreshed 60 frames per second. Nowadays, even cheap phones offer 90- or 120-Hz screens. The more frames refreshed in a second, the more fluid everything looks and feels. It might sound small, but it can make a big difference in your smartphone feeling buttery smooth. We have a broader guide that explains this technology further. Flagship phones have screens with variable refresh rates that range from 1 to 120 Hz, meaning theyâre often more battery efficient.
Battery capacity: Smartphone batteries are measured in milliampere-hours (mAh). A big battery doesnât necessarily mean better battery life, because much depends on the size of the screen and other technologies the phone is powering. That said, most phones should have 4,000-mAh cells or higher, and you typically wonât see anything higher than 5,500 mAh. Some phones now have silicon-carbon batteries, a new technology that allows them to be denser but thinnerâthe OnePlus 13, for example, has a 6,000-mAh battery but is slimmer than many of its peers.
Charging speeds: Most Android smartphones can charge fast, but certain companies offer shockingly fast recharge times. Thatâs usually because they have a proprietary charging brick youâll need to use. You can find charging speed information on a phoneâs product spec page. OnePlus phones are famous for recharging fully within around 30 minutes. Just remember that these days, most smartphones do not come with a charging brick, just a cable. We have more details in this fast charging guide.
Software updates: Software support is crucial. It means your phone will stay secure for longer and youâll get new features over time. The gold standard in Android is 7 years right now, thanks to Samsung and Google. However, if you have a cadence of replacing your phone every two or three years, then the lesser update policies of other Android phone makers might not be as big of a deal to you.
Cameras: Camera specs are very misleading. A phone with a 108-megapixel sensor doesnât mean it will take better photos than a phone with a 50-MP sensor. The only way to really know is to look at reviews. What you can do, if the camera is important to you, is check if thereâs a versatile system. The best camera phones offer a primary wide camera, an ultrawide, and a telephoto zoom (usually at 5X zoom). That said, cheap phones tend to come with a lot of cameras, many of which are useless.
Extra features: Itâs important not to overlook the smaller features you may expect. Does the phone have a near-field communication sensor (NFC) so you can make contactless payments? Does it have a good IP rating that can survive a drop in the pool? Is there wireless charging? What about a microSD card slot or headphone jack? Make sure you vet the phoneâs tech specs if youâre after something specific.
5G service: Most new smartphones support 5G now, the current generation of network connectivity. If the phone youâre looking at doesnât support 5Gâdonât fret! 4G LTE isnât going anywhere yet. Donât feel pressured to upgrade to a 5G phone. That said, you do need a 5G-enabled smartphone if you want to make use of 5G speeds. Itâs available in phones as cheap as $200.
How to Switch Between Phones
The best way to switch phones is to follow the setup prompts when you first boot up your new deviceâmake sure you transfer data from an old phone via a cable. Itâs much faster than doing it wirelessly, though thatâs an option too. Some manufacturers, like Samsung, will suggest you download a proprietary data transfer app on your old device, like Smart Switch, and you should. It means less work for youâwhether itâs fewer apps you need to sign into or fewer icons you need to rearrange. If youâre coming from an iPhone, you can use Googleâs official Android Switch app, though itâs not necessary if you are switching to a Samsung phone.
Check out our tips on setting up your new Android phone for more, and our steps on how to back up an Android and how to factory reset it.
I put my personal SIM card in every smartphone I test, and typically use it for a week, if not two or three. I stress test performance by playing mobile games and running benchmark tests, like Geekbench and Antutu, while also monitoring thermals. I make sure to make calls to test the smartphoneâs microphone quality since, you know, itâs still a phone.
I often do camera testing by bringing a competing phone along and analyzing photos side by side on a larger, more color-accurate screen. Iâve been reviewing smartphones for close to a decadeânot just the flagship devices either. Iâm always testing cheap phones to see what innovations are trickling down.
Other Phones to Consider
We test a ton of Android phones. We like the ones below, but youâll be better off with one of the options above. If you havenât yet done so, check out our Best Cheap Phones and Best Folding Phones guides for more.
Pixel 9
Photograph: Julian Chokkattu
Google Pixel 9 for $699: The Pixel 9 is a great smartphone (9/10, WIRED Recommends), but between the Pixel 9a and the Pixel 9 Pro series, it struggles to stand out. It shares many features with its pricier siblings, but you can get a very similar experience with the Pixel 9a, all while saving hundreds of dollars. If you love the design and want the new smart software features, donât let me stop you!
Galaxy S25 Edge
Photograph: Julian Chokkattu
Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge for $1,100: Samsungâs latest innovation is to slim down the smartphone to an amazingly thin 5.8 mm. Thatâs not as impressive as phones from the past, but the Galaxy S25 Edge (6/10, WIRED Recommends) is still impressive when you hold this lightweight 6.7-inch phone in your hand. It maintains several features from the Galaxy S25 Ultra, except thereâs no S Pen stylus, no telephoto cameras whatsoever, and battery life is not good at all for a phone of this size and price. I routinely had to keep it topped up throughout the day. But if youâre an average to light user, you may find it sufficient, and maybe youâll be able to appreciate the thin and light size even more.
Samsung Galaxy S24 FE for $650: Samsungâs Galaxy S24 FE is a better buy now that the flagship Galaxy S24 series is harder to find for sale. Itâs a perfectly capable smartphone with a triple-camera array (including a 3X telephoto camera), and it delivers good performance. It has wireless charging, is IP68 water resistant, and has solid day-long battery life. Itâs a shame the designâs a bit drab. Alternatively, you can try to find the flagship Galaxy S24 series on sale: the Galaxy S24, Galaxy S24+, and Galaxy S24 Ultra are still excellent devices, but make sure you donât spend anywhere near their MSRP.
Moto G Power 2025
Photograph: Julian Chokkattu
Motorola Moto G Power 2025 for $300: The new Moto G Power (7/10, WIRED Recommends) isnât as great as its predecessor, and that comes down to one reason: Due to a lesser chipset, thereâs a slight hit in performance, and it feels a bit more sluggish to use. However, the performance is good enough that you wonât feel frustrated. Outside of this, itâs a remarkable $300 phone. The green faux leather back exudes luxury, and itâs nice and slim. The cameras are solid, and the 6.8-inch LCD screen has a 120-Hz screen refresh rate and gets plenty bright. Best of all, the company retained the wireless charging it debuted in last yearâs model, making it one of the only sub-$300 phones with this convenience. Another area of improvement? Itâs IP68/69-rated, so you wonât have to baby this phone near a pool; it can handle a dip just fine. Motorola has also extended software updates on the Moto G series, promising two Android OS upgrades, with the same 3 years of security updates. Thereâs a fair amount of bloatware, but you can remove most of these preinstalled apps.
Google Pixel 8a for $487: The Pixel 8A (8/10, WIRED Recommends) isnât too dissimilar from the latest Pixel 9a. It looks gorgeous (especially in the flashy Aloe color), has a powerful processorâTensor G3âand nearly all the same smart software features that make Pixels a joy to use. The 64-MP camera and a 13-MP ultrawide capture better photos than most midrange phones, and you get a compact 6.1-inch OLED screen with a 120-Hz screen refresh rate to boot. Make sure you donât pay more than $399 for one. If itâs close to $499, just buy the newer Pixel 9a.
ROG Phone 9
Photograph: Julian Chokkattu
Asus ROG Phone 9 for $1,000: The ROG phone series is for serious gamers. There are two USB-C ports, so you can charge the phone comfortably even while using it in landscape mode for gaming. It has perks like a headphone jack and a bevy of accessories you can attach, like a cooler and a mobile controller, to enhance the gaming experience. Unfortunately, other aspects of this phone struggle to match the high priceâthe software can feel clunky, and the cameras are not at all what youâd expect at this price level. I also ran into a few annoying bugs while using the Phone 9 Pro.
Minimal Phone
Photograph: Julian Chokkattu
Minimal Phone for $399: Having trouble curbing your screen time? Instead of going cold turkey with something like the Light Phone III, try the Minimal Phone (6/10, WIRED Review). This is an e-paper Android phone with a physical keyboard. The goal is to let you access the usual Android apps, but because the screen is ill-suited to videos and most social media, youâll naturally be able to avoid those distractions. Itâs successful in this task, but the constant screen ghosting and plasticky build dampen the experience.
Google Pixel 8 for $600 and Pixel 8 Pro for $669: The Pixel 8 or Pixel 8 Pro (7/10, WIRED Recommends) from 2023 are still available to buy, and theyâre great devices with lots of life left in them. Just make sure you donât spend more than $600. (Prices constantly fluctuate.) Anything more, and you should just buy from the new Pixel 9 series.
Photograph: Julian Chokkattu
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 for $1,900: The Fold6 (7/10, WIRED Recommends) is an excellent big-screen folding smartphone. If youâre worried about durability and repairability when purchasing a fold, Samsung is your best bet, as it has been producing these devices for the longest time. The cameras snap great photos, the displays get shockingly bright, and Samsung promises lengthy software support. The Fold6âs exterior screen is slightly wider and much nicer to use than previous iterations, but otherwise, there are not a ton of new changes outside of AI advancements. You can still snag 2023âs Galaxy Z Fold5 to save some dough.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip6 for $1,100: The Flip6 (7/10, WIRED Recommends) has some perks over Motorolaâs new Razr+, like a nicer hinge mechanism, better build quality, stronger cameras, and longer software support. But I still preferred the overall experience on Motorolaâs flip, mostly due to the larger external screen. Still, the Flip6âs 3.4-inch cover screen is handy for glancing through widgets, and you can open it up to get a big-screen Android phone experience. The Galaxy Z Flip5 is a worthy option if you donât mind buying 2023 tech at a lower price.
Mobile Accessories You Might Need
Photograph: Julian Chokkattu
We have case recommendations for a few popular devices, like Samsungâs Galaxy S25, Galaxy S24, and Galaxy S23, or Googleâs Pixel 9 series. Itâs smart to slap a case on these glass sandwiches and even a screen protector to keep the display free of scuffs and scratches. Here are a few other noteworthy accessories, including charging adapters, which many phones donât include anymore. Read our Best USB-C Cables guide for other recommendations.
Anker 45-Watt Charger for $28: This tiny charger will be enough for most people to charge most smartphones. Itâs compact, reliable, and cheap, plus the prongs fold up. More smartphones than ever can go up to 45-watt charging speeds, so take advantage with a 45-watt charger.
Photograph: Julian Chokkattu
Counterpart Retractable The Charger for $44: Itâs not the best value, but this design-forward charger has a retractable 4-foot cable that makes it a fantastic two-in-oneâno need to pack a separate charger and cable! It outputs 35 watts, which is plenty to fast-charge most phones and tablets, and the prongs fold in for travel.
Peak Design Samsung and Pixel Everyday Case for $50: If you have a Samsung or Pixel phone and you frequently mount your phone to a bike or scooter, you owe it to yourself to snag this case and Peak Designâs bike mount. The case snaps perfectly into the mount, is dead simple to release, 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, bringing Android into Appleâs MagSafe ecosystem.
Nimble Champ Portable Charger 10,000 mAh for $60: This portable battery is small enough to leave in a bag but has enough power to fully recharge your phone once or twice. Thereâs a USB-C and USB-A port; it delivers 18 watts of power, so it can recharge your tablet or phone, and itâs housed in 73 percent post-consumer plastic with plastic-free packaging.
Nomad ChargeKey V2 for $25: When your phone dies, itâs almost always when you forget to bring a charger or battery pack. The ChargeKey is a nifty solutionâitâs like clipping a tiny USB-C charging cable to your keychain. Just plug one end into your phone and the other into any kind of power source (a friendâs phone or a charging adapter if you manage to find one), and you can top up your phone. Native Union also has a similar item thatâs cuter but nearly as capable.
Choose a Wireless Charger: Our guide to the best wireless chargers includes dozens of models in varying colors, shapes, and materials, and even some designed for specific phones. Not every Android phone supports wireless charging, but itâs a luxury youâll want to take advantage of. Take a gander at our guide for our favorites.
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