When it comes to smartphones, people usually fall into one of two loyalty teams: Apple iOS or Android. Those on team Android love the freedom and customization that comes with the ability of choosing your own hardware and software features. There’s a lot of choice in the world of smartphones and purchasing the best Android phones can help you have all the latest tech features right at your fingertips.
Between work emails, catching up with friends, and social media, most of us spend hours of time on our phones each day, making it even more logical that we would invest in a quality device. And while there’s no shortage of studies telling us to spend less time on our smartphones, one surprising piece of research finds time spent scrolling may not be entirely wasted after all. A recent study suggests that smartphones can actually enhance productivity if used in a focused, “mindful” fashion. The research found that mindful use of smartphones, without necessarily minimizing screen time, enhances productivity.
Another study found that using smartphones may actually help to improve a person’s memory skills as well, instead of making them lazy or forgetful. Researchers from University College London say digital devices can store important information, which frees up our brains to remember other things. The team adds that using a phone as an “external memory” not only helps people remember what’s stored in the phone, but also helps them remember unsaved information as well.
Investing in a smartphone that operates quickly and smoothly can help you get your day-to-day tasks done fuss-free, so you can spend less time on the phone with IT and more time on the things that are most important to you. Taking quality, user-friendliness, features and price-point into consideration, StudyFinds set out to find the best Android phones. We visited 10 of the leading expert websites to find the Android phones most frequently recommended by reviewers. Based on these rankings, we’ve compiled a list of the top five devices on the market.
The List: Best Android Phones, According To Experts
1. Google Pixel 7
If you’re looking for an Android phone that has all the amazing flagship features at a great value, experts agree the Google Pixel 7 is an all-around great choice. “The Google Pixel 7 offers the high-quality software and cameras that have made all of Google’s Pixel phones great, and it costs just $600. This phone comes with Google’s clean, responsive version of Android 13, and it’s guaranteed to get updates through fall 2027. The Pixel 7 has a dual-camera setup that takes better photos than almost any other Android phone,” writes The New York Times.
Users love this phone for its sleek design, incredible value, easy use and top-notch camera. “It’s no surprise that the best Android smartphone is the one made by Google. A great showcase for the platform, the Pixel 7 (and 7 Pro) is on par with most other companies’ flagships, but at a vastly reduced price. Not only is the Pixel 7’s stripped-back Android 13 experience as refined and effortlessly simple as ever, but what really sets the Pixel 7 apart this year is its dual cameras, which are simply in a class of their own,” adds Expert Reviews.
2. Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra
Coming in at a close second, Samsung’s Galaxy S22 Ultra is a luxury android find that comes with all the bells and whistles. “While the Galaxy S21 supported the Samsung S Pen stylus, the Galaxy S22 now integrates the accessory with a slot for stowing and charging it – much like Samsung’s Note range of smartphones,” mentions Forbes. “The camera looks very similar to that of the S21 Ultra, but the lenses no longer protrude from the back of the device, which means it can be set down flat more easily than its predecessor could.”
Top-rated features include low-light photography, great zooming capabilities, and optimal performance. “The Galaxy S22 Ultra is the king of Android phones. It’s got almost anything you could ever want in a phone, including a built-in S Pen stylus. It’s got powerful cameras, the top-tier Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor, plenty of storage options, and a jaw-droppingly gorgeous display,” says Tom’s Guide.
3. Google Pixel 7 Pro
With a clean interface and an impeccable camera, the Google Pixel 7 Pro is highly rated for its easy use and responsiveness. “The Pixel 7 Pro listens better – literally. It recognizes speech more accurately, making Google Assistant more useful. It doesn’t just make photos better, it makes them more clear, and more inclusive, using Real Tone technology to enhance skin tones,” points out Tech Radar.
While not inexpensive to say the least, reviewers say the Google Pixel 7 Pro rivals phones at higher price points while delivering the same performance. “The Pixel 7 Pro is a refinement over the excellent Pixel 6 Pro from last year. It sports an upgraded Tensor G2 processor, a brighter display, and 5x optical zoom. It’s a great phone with plenty of smarts and useful features,” notes Tom’s Guide.
4. OnePlus 10 Pro
With a stylish design, long battery life, and great performance, the OnePlus 10 Pro is a great affordable find and rivals more expensive models on the market. “It’s a beautifully-designed device with a big 6.7-inch AMOLED display and a smooth 120Hz refresh rate. It has the brawn to match its eye-catching body, too, thanks to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor,” claims Tom’s Guide.
Packed full of features and one of the most affordable quality Androids available, experts say there’s no reason not to buy the OnePlus 10 Pro. “It’s a spiffy-looking device with powerful hardware, including a 120-Hz AMOLED screen that gets bright, speedy performance, and some of the fastest wired and wireless charging you’ll find in the U.S.,” raves Wired.
5. OnePlus Nord N20
If you’re on a tight budget but still looking for an Android that delivers, the OnePlus Nord N20 is a top pick. “Although the OnePlus Nord N20 5G costs less than half the price of a modern high-end smartphone, it resembles a more expensive phone in its screen, performance, and long battery life. The Nord N20 includes an in-display fingerprint sensor and a 1080p OLED display—features that set it apart from most other budget Android phones, which usually have 720p LCD screens and no fingerprint sensor. It also loads complex websites, runs games, and installs and launches apps faster than most other budget phones we’ve tested,” says The New York Times.
Users also love this gadget for its smooth performance and super fast charging. “The Nord N20 is the most stylish affordable phone I’ve seen in 2022, and I don’t anticipate any other model stealing that distinction away this year. It has a striking flat back with two bold, gold-edged camera lenses near the top corner,” writes PC Magazine.
You might also be interested in:
Sources
- Forbes
- New York Times
- Wired
- Expert Reviews
- CNET
- PC Mag
- Tom’s Guide
- Tech Radar
- Android Authority
- Trusted Reviews
Note: This article was not paid for nor sponsored. StudyFinds is not connected to nor partnered with any of the brands mentioned and receives no compensation for its recommendations.
Huawei Mate 50 Pro
Huawei kills them.
Huawei has no GOOGLE support so don’t get mad. Nowadays people rely on Google products, specially in work/job.
Yes it does. There’s an app that allows to install Google services.
Non è proprio così. I servizi google poi non servono solo per le app.
I agree, also the new 2021 2022 and 2023 Motorolas will destroy.perfprmamce if they were compared. I am only willing to buy Motorolas and something else only if Motorolas isn’t a available. I owned Moto e6, Moto g play 2021, Moto g pure, Moto g go and a Moto g stylus 2022.
Pixel 7 pro is the real king. Samsung can’t do what google does. What a joke Tom. Number 3 really. 😂
Xiaomi 12 Pro
Great phone…
Did you examine the Google Pixel 6a as well because it may perform better than the other phones in your list? I’ve never heard of OnePlus & yet, it’s got TWO models in your bestseller list. Could you to cite statistics whether it’s actually a bestseller or not? In fact, the best way to evaluate or compare phones are the sales records. Thanks.
If you didn’t heard about the “flagship killer” means you should delete your Google account
No patriot would ever use a China product and Huawei is an extension of the PLA because it was funded by the PLA at its founding, as the PLA has active agents in place in every country in the world, due to Mao’s fear of a U.S. invasion. That’s why every criminal organization in every country of significance is controlled by the PLA. I’ve witnessed first-hand the far-reaching tentacles of the PLA way back in the 90s when I was doing business with Chinese entities. China is allowing the PLA free reign to do whatever’s necessary to further the interests of the motherland in order to provide plausible deniability for the Chinese govt. In fact, the present generation of Chinese govt leaders may be unaware of the PLA’s hand in every major criminal activity around the world, as only members of the Politburo, which includes Xi Jinping, are privy to such knowledge. The CIA knows what’s going on with the PLA but can’t do anything about it. Previous attempts to act against the PLA has ended up in dead CIA agents. Even the Mafia, Yakuza, etc are controlled by the PLA. So, what the US can do is to act against the fruits of the PLA to undermine the US & control the world economy, which is to act against Huawei & other major Chinese entities, which the Bush, Clinton & Obama has allowed to flourish by stupidly outsourcing our manufacturing & R&D to China. NEVER, EVER TEACH THE CHINESE HOW TO DO THINGS RIGHTS BECAUSE THEY WILL END DOING IT BETTER THAN YOU. It’s in their DNA to strive to do better than their peers. How do you think that China can build rockets, space stations, nuclear subs, etc if not for the transfer of western technology. It’s best for us to resign ourselves to living with the reality of Chinese dominance but I truly believe if every western govt were to unite against China, our technology will become stronger and better than the Chinese because we also have our fair share of Chinese, Indian and European immigrants, who will contribute to our economy & help us to become free of Chinese dominance.
How much tinfoil do you use annually on those hats you wear?
Patriot? Lmao, wtf is a patriot and better yet; who gives a rats ass?
Totally agree. We will be driving Chinese cars in masses one day.
North America has the worst selection of Android phone. Each and every phone mentioned has flaws.
The Galaxy S22 is highly overrated, especially.
No headphone built-in. No SD Memory card space. I don’t care how many Gigabytes are provided. A memory card provision is good to have.
Traveling to other parts of South East Asia, Android phones are much better. Cheaper and more choices.
None of the phones mentioned are….what are they called…one of the best???
Total garbage. The more improvised an Android device is, the worst it becomes. Too expensive and none of the features that the older models used to have; which incidentally are more practical than the newer ones that are proclaimed to be “so good”. I am very happy with the Galaxy A52. Mid-range. But, it has all the necessities that these newer models are lacking of.
The problem with memory cards is they’re ridiculously easy to become corrupt and you lose all your data just like that. This is the primary reason they became obsolete. While I agree headphone jack is great, they’ve disappeared like the CD drive.
The Chinese phones like Huawai,Oppo, and more are dangerous but ignorant consumers only care about the price at the end of the day and what they might read on alternative websites or forums.Nobody cares about privacy until they become a victim.
The Pixel must be all around the worst phone of 2022/2023. With it’s design flaw of cracked camera lens in colder temps, to poor quality control, cheap low quality components, and horrible Ui, and more. I had one and returned it after a few weeks. It was a disaster.
Sophisits and trolls will always find ways to sound convincing and deny or deflect shortcomings unless it suits their narrative.
While expensive, Apple is your best bet followed by a distant second, Samsung for quality and user experience.
Everybody calm down, we all know overall, the s22 ultra is hands down the best phone in the world right now.
And Trump is the best president the world has ever had. Lol
Bogus and rubbish. Pixel 7 is the worst phone on so many levels.
I bought a Pixel 7 from Verizon.
Very nice phone except IT DOESN’T WORK ON 5G ANYWHERE.
The best connection I can get is an LTE, even though the two iPhones and Pixel 6 I have in the same room get 4 bars of 5G.
My crappy Samsung S22 got full 5G.
Verizon says the problem is the Pixel 7.
Did you write this now? It appears to be out of date.
lol😂
1. XIAOMI 13 Ultra is the king.
2. XIAOMI 13 PRO is next.
3. SAMSUNG GALAXY S23 ULTRA
The rest can come in any order.
the best phone that I’ve gotten is this phone that i have but i get to much junk email. i will be down loading something to get off of junk mail.
THE BEST PHONE IN THE WORLD IS THE GALAXY S23 ULTRA