Because outstanding new Android phones are released on a regular basis, our ranking of the best Android phones is constantly changing. The OnePlus 9, OnePlus 9 Pro, Xiaomi Mi 11, and Asus ROG Phone 5 are just a few examples of recent releases.
Of course, Samsung Galaxy S21 and Galaxy S21 Ultra were only released not long ago, and the Sony Xperia 1 III, Google Pixel 6, and a slew of other phones are expected to be released later this year.
As a result, there are a good number of great Android phones to select from right now, with more coming all the time, and we’ve compiled a list of the best ones now available below.
These are mostly flagships, but they come from a variety of companies and at a variety of prices, so there should be something here for everyone. While we expect regular new additions, the best phones on our list are expected to remain among the best for a long time, so there’s no risk of losing out if you don’t keep an eye on what’s new.
So, without further ado, here are the best Android phones you can buy, ranked in order of choice from our favorite to the least favorite.
Best Android phone 2021: which one is for you?
1. Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra
Samsung’s top premium flagship for 2021 is the Galaxy S21 Ultra, and what a phone it is. For the first time, Samsung has included S Pen functionality on an S-range handset, allowing you to enjoy the Galaxy Note’s finest feature as an extra bonus.
Even without it, this is a gorgeous smartphone, with a fantastic quad-lens camera that can achieve a 10x optical zoom. In fact, we dubbed it the finest camera zoom on any widely available Android phone in our review.
The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra boasts a smooth Gorilla Glass back with a matte finish that appears better than the shiny Galaxy S20 series, and a curved edge-to-edge 6.8-inch screen across the front.
And while we’re on the subject of the screen, it’s the first Samsung phone to feature both a QHD+ resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate at the same time. And as a high-end Samsung screen, it’s one of the best on the market.
Of course, there’s a lot of power here, and though it’s obviously costly, the Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra had a lower starting price at launch.
2. OnePlus 9 Pro
OnePlus phones used to be known for cutting corners to keep prices low, but that is no longer the case with the OnePlus 9 Pro. It’s a superb phone in every regard, yet it’s still somewhat less expensive than most comparable smartphones.
It also has the greatest OnePlus camera phone, with a huge, crisp, and all-around high-quality 120Hz screen, top-end power from its Snapdragon 888 processor, a huge battery with rapid charging whether wired or wireless (at 65W and 50W respectively), and a luxury metal and glass frame – with water resistance.
This is noteworthy since it’s an area where OnePlus has traditionally failed to compete, but the OnePlus 9 Pro is the first fruit of new cooperation with Hasselblad, and the camera brand’s skill shines through.
All of this high-end tech means the OnePlus 9 Pro is more costly than previous models in the series, which is the major criticism, but it’s difficult to say you’re not getting your money’s worth.
More Information: OnePlus 9 Pro review
3. Samsung Galaxy S21
The Samsung Galaxy S21 is the most basic and affordable model in the Galaxy S21 lineup, but it offers a lot more than just an affordable rate.
The triple-lens camera is quite versatile, with the three fundamental lenses, we’d expect from a high-end smartphone — the main lens, a telephoto lens, and an ultra-wide lens. They’re all really good at what they do.
There’s also high-end power, long battery life, and a 120Hz refresh rate AMOLED screen. It’s also a lot smaller than the rest of the S21 lineup, at 6.2 inches, so it’s excellent if you don’t want a big phone.
The Samsung Galaxy S21 is not only the most affordable in the line, but it’s also a step lower in price from its predecessor, making it a bit of a bargain – but to do so, the screen quality has been reduced to Full HD+, and the back of the phone is made of ‘Glasstic’ rather than actual glass.
More Information: Samsung Galaxy S21 review
4. Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra
The Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra is the company’s latest super-premium Note smartphone, boasting advanced features, a great-looking screen, and special features for the phone’s included S Pen pen that allow you more diverse ways to use your device.
Sure, it’s pricey and big, and it doesn’t have all the bells and whistles that the Galaxy S20 Ultra has. However, such flaws are compensated for by a slew of advantages.
The Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra is a true top-of-the-line phone with top-of-the-line features in every category, so if your wallet (and palm) can stretch for it, it’s a phone worth considering.
More Information: Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra review
5. Xiaomi Mi 11
Xiaomi’s flagship for 2021
The Xiaomi Mi 11 isn’t the top of the Mi 11 line – that honor goes to the Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra – but it’s still a great Android phone with plenty of power and a good camera.
There’s a 108MP f/1.9 main lens and a 13MP f/2.4 ultra-wide lens, both of which are good, but the camera’s star is its 5MP telemacro snapper, which is significantly better than most phones macro cameras and works from far away from the subject.
The Xiaomi Mi 11 also sports a stunning 6.81-inch 1440 x 3200 AMOLED screen with a 120Hz refresh rate and a quick wired and wireless charging battery.
The Xiaomi Mi 11’s battery life wasn’t great in our tests, and we would have wanted to see a telephoto camera included, but it’s still a wonderful flagship.
More Information: Xiaomi Mi 11 review
6. Oppo Find X3 Pro
The Oppo Find X3 Pro would be higher on our list if it weren’t for its exorbitant price, but as it is, it’s still a great phone, even if it’s not great value.
It boasts all of the features you’d expect from a high-end phone, including a big, high-resolution, 120Hz screen, a top-of-the-line CPU, plenty of RAM, a massive battery that charges quickly (at 65W wired or 30W wireless), water resistance, and a premium build with a somewhat more eye-catching camera block design than others.
It’s a quad-lens camera, featuring a 50MP f/1.8 main lens, 50MP f/2.2 ultra-wide lens, 13MP f/2.4 telephoto lens (with 2x optical zoom), and 3MP f/3.0 macro lens.
That macro snapper may appear to be a gimmick, but it’s actually a’microlens’ from Oppo, intended to take extraordinarily close-up images that seem more like a microscope image than a conventional macro shot. It’s a unique feature that you won’t find on other phones at the time of writing, and it might be one of the key reasons to justify the phone’s expensive price.
More Information: Oppo Find X3 Pro review
7. Samsung Galaxy S20 and S20 Plus
The Samsung Galaxy S20 and Galaxy S20 Plus, as well as the Galaxy S20 Ultra, are the company’s key 2020 flagship phones, so it’s no surprise that they’ve made our list.
While the S20 Plus has a little advantage in terms of features, due to a larger 6.7-inch screen, a larger 4,500mAh battery, a fourth camera lens (for depth-sensing), and optionally additional storage, they’re essentially identical phones, therefore they belong in the same category.
Both offer a respectable camera array, with 12MP standard, 12MP ultra-wide, and 64MP telephoto lenses, as well as top-end capability, due to Snapdragon 865 or Exynos 990 chipsets and up to 12GB of RAM (depending on where you are in the world).
They also have a 1440 x 3200 display with a refresh rate of up to 120Hz on each.
More Information: Samsung Galaxy S20 review – Samsung Galaxy S20 Plus review
8. OnePlus 9
It’s a wonderful deal with no serious disadvantages.
In many aspects, the OnePlus 9 is inferior to the OnePlus 9 Pro, but it is also significantly less expensive, and it arguably retains the spirit of its more expensive sibling.
For starters, it maintains the Hasselblad name (and the photographic skill that comes with it), as well as the same camera hardware as the OnePlus 9 Pro — without the telephoto lens.
The OnePlus 9 has the same processing power as the 9 Pro (or pretty much any other early 2021 flagship), and its screen, though smaller, is still impressive — it’s a 6.55-inch FHD+ display with a 120Hz refresh rate.
The battery charges fast (at 65W), and there’s an in-screen fingerprint scanner as well as a glass back — something that even the Galaxy S21 lacks. The OnePlus 9 does have a plastic frame, but it’s less obvious than a plastic back, and you’re unlikely to be disappointed with the device.
More Information: OnePlus 9 review
9. Asus ROG Phone 5
The Asus ROG Phone 5 is a bit more specialized as a gaming phone than the others on this list, but it excels at gaming and is a superb all-around smartphone as a result.
The Asus ROG Phone 5 is a bit more specialized as a gaming phone than the others on this list, but it excels at gaming and is a superb all-around smartphone as a result.
Its performance is absolutely top-notch, with a Snapdragon 888 CPU and up to 16GB of RAM, and its 144Hz screen impresses, even if it isn’t quite as crisp as some, at 1080 x 2448. The 6,000mAh battery is large, lasts a long time, and charges at 65W; the speakers are excellent, and the phone features shoulder buttons that assist with gaming play.
As a gaming phone, the Asus ROG Phone 5’s cameras are naturally a bit of an afterthought, and the Asus ROG Phone 5 also features the gaudy look that we’ve come to anticipate on gaming phones – and that will elicit just as many critics as admirers. It’s a great pick if you want a powerful device that excels at gaming and other media while undercutting most traditional flagships.
More Information: Asus ROG Phone 5 review
10. Xiaomi Mi Note 10
The Xiaomi Mi Note 10 isn’t a phone you’ll hear a lot of people talking about, but it deserves to be since it’s Xiaomi’s masterpiece.
It includes a fantastic Penta-lens camera system with a 108MP sensor, as well as an outstanding AMOLED screen, fast charging, and a curving design that makes it easy to carry.
Where it falls short is in performance, since it uses a mid-range Snapdragon 730G processor, and in battery life, as we found it to be mediocre despite the large 5,260mAh battery. But, because this isn’t a high-end phone, we can overlook these flaws.
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