Best Android phones 2021: The 13 top phones with Android right now



Introduction

While it can be tempting to think of Android as a small number of flagship phones from the likes of Google and Samsung, the operating system spans thousands of devices from a large number of brands, covering a range of prices from budget smartphones to more premium handsets. 

The huge amount of choice on the market can make it tough to choose which phone is right for you. That’s where this guide comes in. 

We’ve tried and tested countless Android phones from ones with blazingly fast performance, to ones with great cameras and sharp displays, to determine which devices are worth your money. Below you’ll find all of our top picks, including a pros and cons list and links to our full, in-depth reviews with photos. 

This guide is designed to help you find a new Android phone, so if you’re a loyal iOS user, the below might not be for you. If you’re wanting to buy an Apple phone, you can head over to our best iPhones guide to see a list of our favourite Apple devices available right now.

We also have guides arranged by price for those on the hunt for the best cheap phones and the best mid-range phones, along with guides to the best camera phones and the best gaming phones for anyone wanting to prioritise their search by those features in particular. Finally, our best smartphones guide is the one to visit if you’re looking to shop the best of the best across Android and iOS.

How we test

Learn more about how we test mobile phones  Every phone we review goes through a series of uniform checks designed to gauge key things including build quality, screen accuracy, battery life, performance and camera prowess.These include formal synthetic benchmarks and scripted tests, plus a series of real world checks, such as how much battery it loses per hour streaming video.We also make sure to use every phone we review as our primary handset for at least 4 days to ensure our review is as accurate as possible. You can see a more detailed breakdown of our testing methodology in our how we test phones guide.

Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra

The best Android phone

Pros

Great screen thanks to WQHD+ and 120HzMuch-improved design with an attractive finishFar more versatile camera than the iPhone 12 Pro Max

Cons

Expensive, with many cheaper phones offering the same featuresBig and heavyNo charger included

The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra is the most advanced phone in the S21 range and our top choice for any Android user seeking an upgrade in 2021. The S21 Ultra is a fantastic all-rounder and offers up plenty of improvements over its predecessor. Standout features include the WQHD+ 120Hz display and versatile quad-camera, but these are packed up by Samsung’s sizable RAM and storage offerings and the capable Exynos 2100 processor. One of the biggest upgrades found on the S21 Ultra is the adaptive refresh rate. While this feature was also available on the S20 Ultra, you couldn’t enable 120Hz while also running the display at its max WQHD+ resolutions. This time around, there are no compromises to be made with both features able to run at the same time. The quad-camera has also been dramatically improved with the addition of dual 10MP zoom lenses. We also experienced fewer issues focussing the camera and found it produced a beautiful bokeh effect when shooting with the 108MP f/1.8 lens – check out our review for some adorable puppy pics. If you can stomach paying over £/$1000 for your phone and don’t mind the extra weight, the S21 Ultra is one of the best Android phones available. Reviewer: Max Parker Full review: Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra review

Oppo Find X3 Pro

A worthy follow-up to the excellent X2 Pro

Pros

Thin and light for a 6.7-inch phoneAdaptive 120Hz display is gorgeous and highly customisableOppo’s software has seen huge improvements

Cons

Battery life not as good as the Galaxy S21 UltraLoses the periscope zoom skills of the Find X2 ProVibration motor is terrible

The Oppo Find X3 Pro is one of the best Android phones around. If you’re not keen on the hefty size of the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra then it does offer an alternative thanks to a far slimmer body.It takes excellent pictures and has one of the best screens on any phone you can buy, with performance matching top releases from Samsung and OnePlus.We heaped much praise on the X2 Pro last year mostly for its camera, and Oppo has once again impressed here. Both the wide and ultra-wide cameras are fantastic, with nice bright colour and plenty of versatility. We do bemoan the lack of a periscope zoom for superior zoomed shot though, something we loved about the X2 Pro.What Oppo has improved in the year since the X2 Pro’s release is the software. The version of Android Oppo uses now is far cleaner, far more reliable and much more like Google’s vision. Reviewer: Max ParkerFull review: Oppo Find X3 Pro review

OnePlus 9 Pro

OnePlus impresses once again

Pros

Excellent screenFast wired and wireless charging is a dreamOne of the best versions of AndroidImpressive ultra-wide camera

Cons

The camera can be frustratingly slow to openNo great zoom skills and better photos taken elsewhereNot widely available on contract

If you want the best OnePlus phone going then you need the OnePlus 9 Pro. When compared to the OnePlus 9, the Pro model has a sharper 1440p display, a full metal body, a proper IP68 water resistance rating and very fast wireless charging.Other features here include a good Hasselblad-branded camera system with a main 48MP sensor and an excellent 50MP ultra-wide, along with a battery that can be fully recharged in about 30 minutes.Performance is fantastic thanks to the Snapdragon 888 chipset and, aside from a slow camera app, the software is among the best you’ll find on any Android phone. Reviewer: Max ParkerFull review: OnePlus 9 Pro review

Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro

The best cheap Android right now

Pros

Best in class 120Hz AMOLED display108MP camera capable of fine thingsExcellent stamina from 5020mAhBargain price tag

Cons

No 5GCamera disappoints in less-than-ideal lighting

The Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro stands out in a crowded budget space thanks to a stunning 120Hz AMOLED display, capable 108MP camera and excellent battery life.It’s not the prettiest handset on the market, and you’ll have to be prepared to make do without 5G connectivity. Even so, there aren’t many phones on the market today that give you more for your money. In terms of pricing, the official UK price hasn’t been announced yet, however a global price of $279 has been set so it should around that mark. Reviewer: Jon Mundy Full review: Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro review

Samsung Galaxy S21

A cheaper alternative to the S21 Ultra in two sizes

Pros

Much more affordable at launch than S20Still a great screen (and it’s flat)Snappy performance

Cons

Lack of microSD and WQHD+ resolution make it feel like an S20 downgradeDoesn’t feel as good as previous S series phonesMinimal camera upgrades

The Samsung Galaxy S21 and its larger Galaxy S21 Plus sibling are both excellent choices if you want a new Samsung phone without paying above and beyond for the Ultra’s more advanced specs. Both these S series phones are powered by the same Exynos 2100 processor and pack the same future-proof 5G support as its Ultra sibling – all at a much more tempting price. The S21 includes a 6.2-inch FHD+ display with an adaptive 48/120Hz refresh rate to conserve energy while offering smooth, responsive scrolling. While the 1080p resolution is technically a downgrade from last year’s S20, the screen remains suitably bright and sharp and the introduction of an adaptive refresh rate is a welcome one. You’ll find all the same specs on the S21 Plus, just with a bigger 6.7-inch display.These phones also pack a very reliable camera housed in a newly revamped module on the back. The triple setup includes a 12MP wide sensor, a 12MP ultra-wide sensor and a 64MP zoom sensor. There’s a 10MP selfie camera on the front and up to 8K video capabilities. The colours produced by this camera are vivid and the ultra-wide lens is one of the best we’ve tried, with detail and little blurring. Unlike previous years, there are very few differences between the S21 and S21 Plus – hence us combining them into one entry. You do get a glass back, as opposed to plastic, on the Plus model and as it’s bigger you’ll find a bigger battery inside.Reviewer: Max Parker Full review: Samsung Galaxy S21 review Reviewer: Alastair Stevenson Full review: Samsung Galaxy S21 Plus review

Asus ROG Phone 5

The best gaming phone

Pros

Long-lasting, fast-charging battery144Hz AMOLED screenFantastic stereo speakers

Cons

No telephoto cameraNo wireless chargingFantastic stereo speakers

If you want a phone for gaming, that really does look like a gaming phone then the Asus ROG Phone 5 should be your pick. The device is outlandish in several areas and likely overkill for many but we can’t help but love it.Let’s just look at some of the high-end specs first. There’s a 144Hz OLED display, stereo speakers, up to 16GB RAM and a whopping 6000mAh battery.You’ve also got RGB lighting on the back, a couple of touch-sensitive triggers that support tap and slide interaction on the top and a duo of USB-C ports. Multiple gaming-focused accessories are available too.Of course, there are sacrifices made to make a phone like this. The camera system is good, not great, and there’s no telephoto camera. Wireless charging is missing too. Reviewer: Basil KronfliFull review: Asus ROG Phone 5 review

Samsung Galaxy A52 5G

A standout device from the A series

Pros

Great screenLong battery lifeYears of supportOIS is welcome

Cons

Design is a bit basicSecondary cameras aren’t good

Samsung’s Galaxy A series is supremely popular and considering how good the Galaxy A52 5G is, its inclusion here should be of no surprise. For the price you’re getting an excellent display, good camera, long battery life and an IP67 rating for water resistance. Even if you miss out on luxurious extras like wireless charging and a flashy look, the A52 5G should tick all the boxes if you don’t want to spend too much on a new Android phone.One of the highlights here is the screen, which packs a quick 120Hz refresh rate for smooth scrolling and added responsiveness. The OLED panel is bright and colourful too, plus the 1080p resolution ensures visuals are sharp.There’s 5G support thanks to the very capable Snapdragon 750G chipset and the majority of games should perform admirably. This isn’t the quickest phone around but it more than gets the job done for the price. You’ll also get three years of security updates from Samsung, which is always good to see.If we had some criticisms it would be about the basic design (which is a tad dull), and the poor secondary cameras.Reviewer: Max Parker Full review: Samsung Galaxy A52 5G review

Google Pixel 4a

Stunning value for a great camera

Pros

Great cameraRefreshingly small size for an Android phoneThe promise of fast updatesNice, sharp OLED screenAffordable

Cons

You’ll find competition with far larger spec sheets and feature listsSome mild performance and touch latency hiccupsAs well as being a Pro, the small screen might put some off

Unsurprisingly, Pixel 4a continues to offer one of the best (and most stripped back) Android experiences on the market. The follow-up to the Pixel 3a may not have the sheer horsepower of some rivals but it does come with the easy-to-use Pixel Launcher and a three-year guarantee of swift software updates.Elsewhere, the phone sports a stunning camera that is great in low-light and does a ton of image-processing heavy lifting to create a final product with just one sensor that many quad-cameras setups struggle to achieve.These remarkable features are only made all the more remarkable by its super cheap price tag of just £349. £349 gives you a phone with a decent build quality that sits in your hand far more neatly than the edging-on-phablet phones of modern times.Reviewer: Max Parker Full review: Google Pixel 4a review

Xiaomi Mi 11

Xiaomi impresses with the Mi 11

Pros

Strong displayExcellent performance in all areasLikely far more affordable than similarly specced phonesQuick to charge

Cons

It’s very big, with no smaller optionThe software is buggyNo IP ratingCamera choices aren’t always the best

Like the OnePlus 9, the Xiaomi Mi 11 offers a bunch of top-end specs for a more reasonable price.Standout features here include a top-drawer 120Hz display, Snapdragon 888 5G chipset for strong performance and some very quick charging tech. This is a good all-around device, especially for the price.The Mi 11 sits somewhere in the middle of Xiaomi’s 2021 flagship line – below the Mi 11 Ultra and above the Lite model.In our review, we had particular praise for the excellent OLED display and the strong gaming performance. We were less enamoured with the buggy software and Xiaomi’s overbearing Android skin. We also weren’t won over by the choice of cameras and the lack of any IP rating.Reviewer: Max Parker Full review: Xiaomi Mi 11 review

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3

Samsung’s flagship foldable

Pros

Strong displayExcellent performance in all areasLikely far more affordable than similarly specced phonesQuick to charge

Cons

It’s very big, with no smaller optionThe software is buggyNo IP ratingCamera choices aren’t always the best

The Galaxy Z Fold 3 is the newest update to Samsung’s Fold line, which uses foldable display tech to offer what is essentially a smartphone and a tablet in one package.

The phone features a 6.2-inch exterior display that makes the Z Fold 3 appear similar to a regular phone when closed, along with a second 7.6-inch foldable OLED display on the inside. The two displays feature fast 120Hz refresh rates, along with Gorilla Glass Victus and an IPX8 IP rating to make sure they remain durable. 

The phone runs on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 888 with 12GB RAM and 256GB storage and features a triple 12-megapixel rear camera on the outside, along with a 4-megapixel selfie camera inside the display so there’s no distracting notch. 

There’s also a 4400 mAh battery powering the phone, which is good but slightly too small for a phone with two 120Hz displays. 

Reviewer: Alastair Stevenson

Full review: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 Review

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3

A compact foldable from Samsung

Pros

Folds up into a neat packageSmooth 120Hz inner displayWater resistantMuch cheaper (but still not cheap)

Cons

The outer display is better but still fairly limitedMid-range camerasAverage battery life

The Fold isn’t the only great phone in Samsung’s Z series line of foldables. The Galaxy Z Flip 3 also packs a folding display but in a more compact, clamshell form. 

The Z Flip 3 measures just 4.2-inches when folded and features a tiny 1.9-inch cover screen which displays notifications and acts as a viewfinder for the camera when the phone is closed. 

Open it up and you’ll find a larger 6.7-inch 120Hz display that looks closer to a regular, non-folding phone. Like the Z Fold 3, the Z Flip 3 is more durable than Samsung’s previous foldables thanks to its Gorilla Glass Victus screen and IPX8 IP rating. 

The phone features a dual 12-megapixel camera that can be used as rear or front cameras with the cover screen. There’s also a 10-megapixel sensor on the folding display for video calls and when you want to see yourself on the bigger screen. 

The Z Flip 3 packs the Snapdragon 888 chipset, along with 8GB RAM and 128/256GB storage. There’s also a 3300mAh battery, which is smaller than the one in the Z Fold 3. 

Reviewer: Max Parker

Full review: Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 Review

Pixel 6

Google’s first Tensor-powered phone

Pros

So many great software featuresNice array of coloursStrong camera hardware for the price

Cons

Some jank in the softwareThe display lacks the 120Hz refresh rate of many similarly priced rivalsA couple of odd design choices

The Pixel 6 is Google’s newest smartphone and a more affordable alternative to the more premium Pixel 6 Pro. 

The phone marks the first to be powered by Google’s own Tensor processor, which powers new features like auto-translations and an array of AI camera tools, including the Magic Eraser and Face Unblur. 

Like the Pixels before it, the focus here is on the camera. The dual array on the back of the phone includes a 50-megapixel main lens and a 12-megapixel ultra-wide lens, and there’s also an 8-megapixel punch-hole camera on the front. 

The display itself is a 6.4-inch FHD+ OLED screen, but it lacks the 120Hz refresh rate found on the Pro’s larger display. The rear of the phone features the same three-tone design, however, and both models run Android 12 out of the box. 

The Pixel 6 also packs a 4600 mAh battery which will get you through a full day of use, but isn’t ideal for more intensive tasks. 

Reviewer: Max Parker

Full review: Google Pixel 6 Review

Pixel 6 Pro

The flagship Pixel for 2021

Pros

Wonderfully clean, future proof Android 12 softwareGreat translation and photo editing servicesAll round brilliant rear camera

The Google Pixel 6 Pro is Google’s true 2021 flagship, offering a similar design and set of specs to the Pixel 6, along with a handful of upgrades that make it Google’s most advanced smartphone yet. 

Like the Pixel 6, the 6 Pro is powered by the Google Tensor chipset and was the first phone to run Android 12 out of the box. 

The phone includes a triple camera array, made up of a 50-megapixel main sensor, a 12-megapixel ultra-wide sensor and a 48-megapixel telephoto lens – one more than the standard Pixel 6. There’s also a 11.1-megapixel camera on the front of the handset. 

The phone also has a bigger 6.7-inch display with a faster 120Hz refresh rate for a much smoother scrolling experience. 

However, the Pro suffers from a similarly disappointing battery life to the 6, with the larger 5003 mAh battery just about lasting one day of use. 

Reviewer: Alastair Stevenson

Full review: Google Pixel 6 Pro Review

FAQs

Should I buy a 5G phone? While not vital yet, most of the these phones are 5G so are futureproofed. What’s the best Android phone? The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra is the best Android phone available right now. Which Android phone has the best camera? The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra has the best camera we’ve found on an Android phone.

Comparison Specifications

UK RRP

USA RRP

EU RRP

CA RRP

AUD RRP

Manufacturer

Screen Size

Storage Capacity

Rear Camera

Front Camera

Video Recording

IP rating

Battery

Wirless charging

Fast Charging

Size (Dimensions)

Weight

ASIN

Operating System

Release Date

First Reviewed Date

Model Number

Resolution

HDR

Refresh Rate

Ports

Chipset

RAM

Colours

Bin capacity

Asus ROG Phone 5

£699

€799

Asus

6.78 Inches

128GB, 256GB, 512GB

64MP + 13MP

24MP

Yes

No

6000 mAh

Yes

77.3 x 10.3 x 172.8 MM

238 G

B08CV3W8J9

Android 11

26042021

10/03/2021

ZS673KS

1080 x 2448

Yes

144 Hz

USB-C, 3.5mm port

Qualcomm Snapdragon 865

12GB, 16GB, 8GB

Black, White

Google Pixel 4a

£349

$349

€499

CA$479

AU$599

Google

5.81 Inches

128GB

12.2MP

8MP

Yes

No

3140 mAh

Yes

69.4 x 144 x 8.2 MM

143 G

B08F7ZM2G4

Android 11

Aug-20

03/08/2020

G025J

2340 x 1080

Yes

60 Hz

3.5mm headphone jack, USB-C

Snapdragon 730G

6GB

Black, Blue (limited edition)

litres

OnePlus 9 Pro

£829

$970

€899

CA$1499

OnePlus

6.7 Inches

128GB, 256GB

48MP + 50MP + 5MP

16MP

Yes

IP68

4500 mAh

Yes

Yes

73.6 x 163 x 8.7 MM

197 G

B08V1JLTRN

Android 11 with Oxygen OS

Mar-21

23/03/2021

3216 x 1440

Yes

120 Hz

USB-C

Qualcomm Snapdragon 888

12GB, 8GB

Green, Silver and Black

litres

Oppo Find X3 Pro

£1099

€1199

Oppo

6.7 Inches

256GB

50MP + 13MP + 50MP + 3MP

32MP

Yes

IP68

4500 mAh

Yes

Yes

74 x 163.6 x 8.3 MM

193 G

B08XY4Z6S9

Android 11

Nov-21

03/11/2021

CPH2173

1440 x 3216

Yes

120 Hz

USB-C

Qualcomm Snapdragon 888

12GB, 8GB

Black, Blue, White

litres

Samsung Galaxy A52 5G

£399

Samsung

6.5 Inches

128GB

64MP + 12MP + 5MP + 5MP

32MP

Yes

IP67

4500 mAh

Yes

75.1 x 159.9 x 8.4 MM

189 G

B08TCDK8Y2

Android 11 with OneUI

Mar-21

26/03/2021

SM-A526B

1080 x 2400

120 Hz

Headphone jack

Snapdragon 750 5G

6GB, 8GB

Purple, Black, Blue, White

litres

Samsung Galaxy S21

£769

$799

€849

Samsung

6.2 inches

128GB, 256GB

12MP + 64MP + 12MP

10MP

Yes

IP68

4000 mAh

Yes

Yes

71.2 x 7.9 x 151.7 MM

169 G

B08QNCHGBY

Android

14012021

21/01/2021

SM-G991B

1080 x 2400

Yes

120 Hz

USB-C

Qualcomm Snapdragon 888

8GB

Grey, White, Purple, Pink

Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra

£1149

$1199

€1399

CA$1649

AU$1849

Samsung

6.8 mm

128GB, 512GB, 1TB

108MP + 10MP + 10MP + 12MP

40MP

Yes

IP68

5000 mAh

Yes

Yes

8.9 x 75.6 x 165.1 MM

227 G

B08T1TDFVX

Android

14012021

21/01/2021

SM-G998B

3220 x 1440

Yes

120 Hz

USB-C

Snapdragon 888 or Exynos 2100

12GB, 16GB

Black, Navy, Brown, Silver

Xiaomi Mi 11

£749

€749

Honor

6.81 Inches

128GB, 256GB

108MP + 13MP + 5MP

20MP

Yes

No

4600 mAh

Yes

Yes

74.6 x 8.1 x 164.3 MM

196 G

B08VS8FJY5

Android 11

28122020

16/03/2021

M2011K2C

1440 x 3200

Yes

120 Hz

USB-C

Qualcomm Snapdragon 888

12GB, 8GB

Blue, White, Grey, Purple, Gold

Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro

$279

Xiaomi

6.67 mm

108MP + 8MP + 5MP + 2MP

16MP

Yes

IP53

5020 mAh

Yes

76.5 x 164 x 8.1 MM

193 G

B07ZGJRLG8

Android 11

Apr-21

15/03/2021

M2101K6G

1080 x 2400

Yes

120 Hz

Headphone jack

Snapdragon 732G

8GB

Grey, Blue, Bronze

litres

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3

£1599

$1799

€1799

AU$2499

Samsung

7.6 inches

256GB, 512GB

12MP + 12MP + 12MP

10MP + 4MP

Yes

IPX8

4400 mAh

128.1 x 158.2 x 6.4 MM

271 G

Android 11

2021

13/09/2021

2208 x 1768

120 Hz

Snapdragon 888

12GB

Phantom Black, Phantom Green, Phantom Silver

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3

£949

$999

€1049

AU$1499

Samsung

6.7 inches

128GB, 256GB

12MP + 12MP

10MP

Yes

IPX8

3300 mAh

Yes

Yes

72.2 x 166 x 6.9 MM

183 G

B097TNNNN4

Android 11

2021

2640 x 1080

Yes

120 Hz

USB-C

Snapdragon 888

8GB

Cream, Green, Lavender, Phantom Black, Gray, White, Pink

Pixel 6

£599

$599

Unavailable

Unavailable

Unavailable

Google

6.4 inches

128GB, 256GB

50 MP

8 MP

Yes

IP68

4614 mAh

Yes

Yes

2.9 x 0.4 x 6.2 INCHES

207 G

Android 12

2021

15/10/2021

1080 x 2400

Yes

90 Hz

USB-C

Google Tensor

8GB

Stormy Black, Sorta Seafoam, Kinda Coral

Pixel 6 Pro

£849

$849

Google

6.7 inches

128GB, 256GB

50MP + 12MP + 48MP

50MP

Yes

IP68

5003 mAh

Yes

Yes

3 x 0.4 x 6.5 INCHES

210 G

Android

2021

1440 x 3120

Yes

120 Hz

USB Type-C

Google Tensor

12GB

Stormy Black, Cloudy White, Sorta Sunny

Trusted Reviews test data

Geekbench 5 single core

Geekbench 5 multi core

sRGB

Adobe RGB

DCI-P3

Max brightness

1 hour video playback (Netflix, HDR)

30 minute gaming (intensive)

30 minute gaming (light)

1 hour music straming (online)

1 hour music streaming (offline)

Time from 0-100% charge

Time from 0-50% charge

3D Mark – Wild Life

3D Mark – Sling Shot Extreme

Asus ROG Phone 5

Google Pixel 4a

OnePlus 9 Pro

1134

3612

7 %

10 %

9 %

2 %

2 %

30 min

11 Min

5483

Oppo Find X3 Pro

1023

3345

7 %

11 %

10 %

2 %

4 %

40 min

15 Min

5676

Samsung Galaxy A52 5G

Samsung Galaxy S21

1058

3321

8 %

11 %

8 %

3 %

3 %

70 min

30 Min

5723

7293

Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra

1029

3148

7 %

10 %

9 %

3 %

3 %

100 min

30 Min

7321

Xiaomi Mi 11

1245

3643

12 %

14 %

11 %

3 %

3 %

43 min

20 Min

5764

Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3

1091

3529

900 nits

13 %

10 %

10 %

1 %

1 %

110 min

45 Min

5628

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3

1132

3672

95.3 %

66.7 %

68.7 %

600 nits

11 %

20 %

3 %

5662

Pixel 6 Pro

1046

2914

7 %

20 %

12 %

5 %

3 %

67 min

35 Min

6615

Pixel 6

1040

2858

8 %

12 %

9 %

2 %

1 %

115 min

35 Min

6595



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