Other phones to consider
We test a lot of Android phones. We like the options below, but you’ll be better off using one of the options above. If you haven’t done so yet, check it out Best cheap phone And Guide to the best folding phones for more.
Google Pixel 9 for $799: Pixel 9 is a truly great smartphone (9/10, WIRED recommended), but between the Pixel 8A and Pixel 9 Pro lines, it struggles to stand out. It shares many features with its more expensive siblings, but you can get one very Get the same experience with the Pixel 8A, while saving hundreds of dollars. If you love design and want smart new software features, don’t let me stop you! But chances are the Pixel 8A will get many of the same perks soon via a software update.
Samsung Galaxy S24 FE for $650: Samsung’s Galaxy S24 FE is in a similar condition to the Pixel 9. It’s priced so close to the top of the line Galaxy S24 that you can find it for not much more, and there are cheaper phones that are good value. than. It’s a perfectly capable smartphone with its triple camera array (including a 3X telephoto camera) and delivers good performance. It features wireless charging, is IP68 water resistant, and has solid battery life throughout the day. It’s a shame that the design is a bit dull.
Google Pixel 8 for $499 And Pixel 8 Pro for $719: Pixel 8 or Pixel 8 Pro (7/10, WIRED recommended) from 2023 are still available to buy and they are great devices with a lot of life left in them. Just make sure you don’t spend more than $500 or $700. Anything else and you should only 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 folding phone around; it is definitely the world’s thinnest folding phone (8/10, WIRED recommended). It has great battery life, a large exterior display that feels like a normal phone, and an interior display that expands when opened. Even the camera is snappy, although the ultra-wide angle isn’t great and the phone’s overall software can cause some frustration.
Photo: Julian Chokkattu
OnePlus 12 for $650: Now that OnePlus has launched the OnePlus 13 in China, the only reason to buy this one OnePlus 12 (8/10, WIRED recommended) is whether you can find it at a good discount price. I’d say anything under $600 makes it a solid buy, although it could drop even lower in the coming months. OnePlus worked closely with Qualcomm to combine the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset inside with the software, creating an incredibly slick, smooth, and fast experience. As usual, you can charge the phone very quickly (charger included in the box). OnePlus has brought back wireless charging support, and you can also fast recharge if you use the company’s proprietary wireless charger (Purchase separately). What holds it back is the curved glass screen, which is old and not as nice to use as a flat screen. It also just Waterproof according to IP65 standardand while it will get four Android OS upgrades and five years of security updates, that’s not as good as seven years of support from Samsung and Google.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 for $1,900: Fold6 (7/10, WIRED recommended) is an excellent large-screen folding smartphone. If you’re worried about durability and repairability when buying a folding screen, Samsung is your best bet because they’ve been making these devices for the longest time. The camera takes great photos, the screen is surprisingly bright, and Samsung promises long-term software support. The Fold6’s outer display is a bit wider and much easier to use than previous versions, but otherwise, there aren’t many new changes beyond the AI improvements. You can still get last year back Galaxy Z Fold5 to save some dough.
Photo: Julian Chokkattu
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip6 for $1,100: Flip6 (7/10, WIRED recommended) has some advantages over Motorola’s new Razr+, like a nicer hinge mechanism, better build quality, a more powerful camera, and longer software support. But I still prefer the overall experience on the Motorola Flip, mainly because of the larger external display. However, the Flip6’s 3.4-inch external display is handy for scrolling through widgets, and you can flip it up for a big-screen Android phone experience. the Galaxy Z Flip5 is a worthy choice if you don’t mind buying last year’s tech at a lower price.
Xiaomi Poco X6 for £319 And X6 Pro for £369: Not in America? You should check out Poxo X6 or Poco X6 Pro (7/10, WIRED recommended). These are fast phones considering the low price, great screen and decent battery life, plus the X6 even has a headphone jack! Unfortunately, there’s a lot of bloatware and limited water resistance, and the camera is lackluster.
Motorola Moto G Play 2024 for $150: On a tight budget? This Motorola phone does not have NFC for contactless payments nor does it support 5G. It will also only receive an Android OS upgrade. That said, performance was quite good during the time I tested it, and the 6.5-inch LCD screen was readable in sunny conditions.
Mobile accessories you may need
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We have case recommendations for some popular devices, like those from Samsung Galaxy S24, Galaxy S23, And Range S22 or Google’s Pixel 9 series. It’s smart to put a case on these glass sandwiches and even a screen protector to keep the display scratch-free. Here are a few other notable accessories, including the chargers that many phones have Not included anymore. Read ours Instructions for using the best USB-C cable for other recommendations.
Anker 45-watt charger for $20: This tiny charger will be all anyone needs to charge most smartphones. It’s compact, reliable and inexpensive, plus the prongs are foldable. More smartphones than ever can reach charging speeds of up to 45 watts, so take advantage of a 45-watt charger.
Peak Design Samsung and Pixel Everyday Cases for $50: If you have one SAMSUNG or Pixels phone and you regularly attach your phone to your bike or scooter, it is your responsibility to handle this situation and Peak Design bike rack. The case fits perfectly into the stand, is simple to remove and has yet to fall off after years of use. Peak Design also sells some other accessories you can attach it to the back of these cases, put Android in Apple’s MagSafe ecosystem.
Nimble Champ 10,000 mAh portable charger for $60: This portable battery is small enough to fit in your pocket but has enough power to fully charge your phone once or twice. Featuring USB-C and USB-A ports, it delivers 18 watts of power, so it can recharge your tablet or phone, and it’s 73% post-consumer plastic with plastic-free packaging.
Nomad ChargeKey for $25: When your phone runs out of battery, you almost always forget to bring a charger or battery pack. ChargeKey is a convenient solution—it’s like attaching a small USB-C charging cable to your keychain. Just plug one end into your phone and the other end into any type of power source (a friend’s phone or a charger if you can find one) and you can recharge your phone. Local Lien Quan also has similar items that’s cuter but also possible.
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 for our favorites.
