YOUR GUIDE TO THE BEST ANDROID SMARTPHONES OF 2020
Today’s Android smartphone market can easily overwhelm you with choices. There are plenty of high-quality devices available that run the gamut of price points and available features. We’ve helped narrow it down so you can take a look at only the best Android smartphones worth your attention.
In addition to the mandatory camera, processor, and battery upgrades, some of the latest Android phones also feature display panels with the smoothest-looking graphics you can get from a smartphone. I spent at least a week with every pick on this list as my daily smartphone to judge design, craftsmanship, hardware and camera performance, and battery life. Today’s best options deliver a solid balance between these factors, resulting in a consistently smooth user experience.
Best Android Smartphones
All prices listed are for contract-free devices, and most of the smartphones are also available to purchase in small monthly installments. When shopping for a factory-unlocked smartphone, check carefully to ensure that it’s compatible with your wireless carrier. Most devices will work with AT&T and T-Mobile, but not necessarily with Verizon and Sprint.
1 Samsung Galaxy S20 5G Android Smartphone
$999.99$849.99 (15% off)
The Samsung Galaxy S20 is hands-down the best Android smartphone worth your attention today, because it ticks all the boxes in terms of design, specs, and available features. It’s elegant, powerful, compatible with futureproof 5G networks, and capable of easily making it through a full day of use between battery charges. And if you like options, there are plenty of Galaxy S20 colors to choose from: black, gray, blue, and pink.
The latest Galaxy can also capture stunning photos and videos, thanks to a groundbreaking triple-camera setup. It features a high-resolution telephoto sensor with the ability to capture images with a barely believable 30X Space Zoom range. This setup allows you to capture photos from a distance that was previously impossible for a smartphone.
Capable of capturing 8K video — which means it has four times as many pixels as 4K footage — the phone’s content is sharper and packed with even more detail.
If you are looking for an Android phone with a bigger screen, consider the Samsung Galaxy S20+. In addition to a bigger display and battery, it has a more capable camera with a Depth Vision sensor for enhanced images. In case you find the price tag of the Galaxy S20 too steep, consider the Galaxy S10 instead — it’s sleek, plenty capable, and more reasonably priced.
Key Specs
• 6.2-inch QHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with 120 Hz maximum refresh rate and HDR10+ compatibility
• Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 chipset
• 12/16 GB of RAM, up to 512 GB of expandable storage
• Triple camera with 12 MP main, 64 MP telephoto, 12 MP ultra wide; 10 MP selfie camera
• Built-in fingerprint sensor underneath the display
• Fast wired and wireless charging; reverse wireless charging
• Built-in stereo speakers
• IP68 rating for water resistance
2 Google Pixel 4
$699.00
Google’s Pixel 4 combines a cool design, an immersive display, powerful hardware, and fun-to-use gesture controls — as well as the best dual camera on any smartphone. The phone also makes use of a speedy face-unlock setup.
The newest Pixel offers the latest and most advanced iteration of Android available now, free of any bloatware. Also, the phone is always going to be among the first to get new Android features and critical security updates. Unlike the competition, Google will also support its creations with updates for 3 years.
If you’re looking for a great Android experience on a tighter budget, consider the Google Pixel 3a instead. Staring below $400, it lacks the cutting-edge hardware features of the Pixel 4, but will still deliver Google’s signature Android user experience.
Key Specs
• 5.7-inch FHD+ OLED display with 90 Hz maximum refresh rate (Pixel 4)
• Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 chipset
• 6 GB of RAM; 64/128 GB of non-expandable storage
• Dual camera (12 MP and 16 MP); 8 MP dual selfie camera
• Face Unlock
• Fast wired and wireless charging
• IP68 rating for water resistance
3 OnePlus 8 Pro Android Smartphone
The recently launched OnePlus 8 Pro is hands-down the best big-screen Android smartphone for most buyers. It has design, specs, and performance that allow it to compete with Samsung’s excellent Galaxy S20+ and Galaxy S20 Ultra for $300 less.
What sets the OnePlus 8 Pro apart from its top-shelf Android rivals is support for wireless charging with a maximum output of 30 watts. That’s faster than most wall chargers and in a league of its own in terms of sheer speed.
When connected to the brand’s own wireless charger, the 8 Pro will replenish its massive battery from 0 to 50 % in less than half an hour. This is the first OnePlus phone with wireless charging and it looks like the wait was well worth it!
An official IP68 rating for water resistance is another OnePlus 8 Pro feature that was notably missing in its predecessors. The rating ensures that, like most high-end phones today, the device can survive complete submersion under water.
OnePlus offers the 8 Pro in a trio of colors — blue or green with a matte glass finish, and glossy black. In case you are shopping for an over-specced phone on a tighter budget, consider the OnePlus 8 instead. Priced at $799, it lacks some of the features found in the Pro model, such as wireless charing and an official rating for water resistance, but it’s just as sleek and powerful.
Key Specs
• 6.8-inch QHD+ Liquid AMOLED display with 120 Hz refresh rate, HDR10+ compatibility
• Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 chipset
• 8/12 GB of RAM; 128/256 GB of storage
• Quadruple camera (48 MP, 48 MP ultra wide, 8 MP telephoto, 5 MP color filter) with optical image stabilization; 16 MP selfie camera
• Built-in fingerprint sensor underneath the display
• Built-in stereo speakers
• 4,510 mAh battery, ultra fast wired and wireless charging
4 Moto G Power Android Smartphone
$249.00
In terms of affordability, performance, and available features, the Moto G Power by Lenovo can’t be beat. This Android phone effortlessly blends sleek design, robust specs, and insane battery life. A reviewer from The Verge rightfully noted that buyers “won’t be able to find a more well-rounded phone at this price.”
The vast 6.4-inch display of the device is superb for its price range. It’s sharp, vibrant, and overall great for gaming and watching videos on the go. Best of all, it’s flanked by a duo of stereo speakers.
Thanks to its gigantic battery, the Moto G Power can last up to a rather head-spinning 3 days between charges; even demanding users can expect 2 days of use from the smartphone. I like that the device comes bundled with a rapid wall charger.
If you are looking for an even more productive smartphone on a tight budget, consider the Moto G Stylus instead. As its name suggests, the phone comes with a built-in stylus for $50 more.
Key Specs
• 6.4-inch FHD+ LCD display
• Qualcomm Snapdragon 665 chipset
• 4 GB of RAM, 64 GB of expandable storage (via microSD card)
• Triple camera with a 16 MP main, 8 MP ultra wide, and a 2 MP macro, 4K video capture
• 16 MP selfie camera
• Built-in fingerprint sensor on the back, stereo speakers, standard audio jack
• 5,000 mAh battery, fast wired charging
• Water-repellent designADVERTISEMENT – CONTINUE READING BELOW
5 OnePlus 7T Android Smartphone
$499.00
While not the cheapest of the bunch, the OnePlus 7T offers a lot of phone for a relatively small asking price.
Priced below $500, it has design, hardware specs, and performance that can compete with much more expensive offerings. The phone packs a powerful Qualcomm chipset, a vibrant display with a high refresh rate, stereo speakers, an excellent triple camera, and fast wired charging.
OnePlus, in order to make the phone attractively priced, decided not to make the phone water-resistant, nor did they include wireless charging. These features are standard on most top-shelf phones today, though the hefty difference in prices makes their absence forgivable.
Testers from CNET, The Verge, and Tom’s Guide all universally like the OnePlus 7T as well, agreeing that it offers unbeatable performance for its price point. The phone is available in silver or blue.
Key Specs
• 6.55-inch FHD+ AMOLED display with 90 Hz refresh rate, HDR10+ compatibility
• Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 Plus chipset
• 8 GB of RAM; 128 GB of storage
• Triple camera (48 MP, 16 MP, and 12 MP) with optical image stabilization; 16 MP selfie camera
• Built-in fingerprint sensor underneath the display
• Built-in stereo speakers
• Ultra fast wired charging
6 Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ Android Smartphone
$949.99
The Galaxy Note10+ is the ultimate phone for Android power users.
It has a large and vibrant display, a powerful chipset with plentiful RAM for effortless multitasking, fantastic front- and rear-facing cameras, and a massive battery that will easily make it through a full day of heavy use.
Equipped with the product family’s signature S Pen, the big phone is also equally perfect for creative and productive personalities. There’s literally nothing this Android phone can’t do!
In addition to its built-in stylus, the Samsung Galaxy Note10+ is also defined by its screen, which Tom’s Guide called “a sight to behold.” Thanks to Samsung’s DeX platform, the Galaxy Note10+ can also effortlessly connect to a computer, and deliver a desktop user experience.
In case you find the 6.8-inch display of the Galaxy Note10+ too big, consider the Samsung Galaxy Note10 instead. It has a smaller 6.3-inch display panel and lower price tag, but it lacks expandable memory. If you are looking for an awesome big phone without a stylus, go for the Samsung Galaxy S10+.
Key Specs
• 6.8-inch QHD+ Infinity Super AMOLED display
• Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 chipset
• 8/12 GB of RAM; 256/512 GB of expandable storage (via a microSD card slot)
• Triple camera (two 12 MP and one 16 MP) with adjustable aperture; 10 MP selfie camera
• Built-in fingerprint sensor underneath the display
• Stereo speakers
• IP68 rating for water resistance
• S Pen stylus with Bluetooth connectivity
7 ASUS ROG Phone II Android Smartphone
The ASUS ROG Phone II is tailor-made for Android gamers and considered “the ultimate gaming phone,” according to TechRadar.
The mobile rig packs a host of features for optimal gameplay, headlined by a beautiful AMOLED display with an industry-leading refresh rate and response time. It also has a monstrously powerful Qualcomm chipset, the biggest battery in the business, a ROG (which stands for the brand’s Republic of Gamers product family) logo with customizable RGB lighting, and a handy external cooling accessory for lengthy gaming stints.
Some might find the design of the ROG Phone II a bit ostentatious, but its gaming performance is worthy of its ROG name.
The latest ASUS ROG phone also packs customizable, touch-sensitive controls with haptic feedback, dubbed AirTrigger II. The feature allows users to program the top left and right sides of the phone to seamlessly react to any in-game action of your choice.
It’s important to note that the gaming laptop-worthy display refresh rate of the ROG Phone II is not just an impressive hardware feature. There is an impressive list of games that will allow you to really enjoy it to the fullest.
In addition to the bundled cooling device, the ASUS ROG smartphone comes with a solid selection of optional accessories for an even more immersive gaming experience.
This device includes a TwinView dock with an additional touchscreen, and a mobile dock for gaming on a full-size external monitor, among other features. The accessories are cool, but also a tad too pricey.
Key Specs
• 6.6-inch FHD+ AMOLED display with 120 Hz refresh rate, 1 ms response time, HDR compatibility
• Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 Plus chipset
• 12 GB of RAM; 512 GB of storage
• Dual camera (48 MP, 13 MP); 24 MP selfie camera
• Built-in fingerprint sensor underneath the display
• Built-in stereo speakers; standard audio jack
• 6,000 mAh battery
8 LG G8 ThinQ Android Smartphone
$749.99
The LG G8 ThinQ is the best Android phone for avid audiophiles.
It is packed with a host of cool audio features, headlined by a standard audio jack and built-in Hi-Fi quad-DAC. These features allow the phone to power high-end headphones, as well as play high-fidelity audio content without a loss in quality.
LG’s cutting-edge, Crystal Sound OLED tech on the other hand, transforms the device’s front into a capable stereo speaker. It also eliminates the need for an earpiece, making the G8 ThinQ insanely elegant.
The LG G8 ThinQ is plenty powerful and up for any task you throw its way. Its battery life is excellent, too. The phone also gives you the option to choose how you log into it. They include a sophisticated facial recognition, a good ol’ fingerprint sensor, or a futuristic new feature dubbed Hand ID.
Key Specs
• 6.1-inch QHD+ OLED display
• Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 chipset
• 6 GB of RAM; 128 GB of expandable storage (via microSD card)
• Dual camera (16 MP and 13 MP); 8 MP selfie camera
• Built-in fingerprint sensor, face unlock, Hand ID
• Crystal Sound OLED stereo speaker; built-in standard audio jack with Hi-Fi DAC
• IP68 rating for water resistance
