With Android thoroughly dominating the mobile industry, picking the best Android smartphones is almost synonymous with choosing the best smartphones, period. But while Android phones have few real opponents on other platforms, internal competition is incredibly fierce.
From sleek devices that impress with premium design, to powerhouses brimming with features, to all-around great devices, and affordable phones that punch above their weight, the Android ecosystem is populated by a staggering variety of attractive phones.
But “greatness” is subjective, and sometimes spec sheets and feature lists are not enough to make an idea of how good a phone really is. In this roundup, we’re looking at the absolute best – the Android phones you can’t go wrong with.
Editor’s note: we’ll be updating this list regularly as new devices launch.
Samsung Galaxy S6 (and S6 Edge)
Depending on who you ask, one might tell you that the last truly impressive member of the Galaxy S famly was the widely popular GS3. While the Galaxy S4 and Galaxy S5 were not bad handsets, their highly derivative nature came under fire, bolstered further by the fact that many of its rivals have since taken to pushing more premium builds made of metal, glass and other similar materials.
With the Samsung Galaxy S6, the Korean giant has finally delivered a truly premium Galaxy S experience, melding a glass front and back with a metal frame. Most tech journalists and even everyday tech enthusiasts agree that the redesign is a welcome one. Of course, Samsung’s new look isn’t without sacrifice, ditching Samsung staples like a removable back and battery. The microSD slot is also absent on the Galaxy S6.
Another major change for the Galaxy S6 is the processing package, with Samsung electing to leave behind Qualcomm, solely offering up its Exynos 7420 processor, paired with 3GB RAM. And finally, the software has also been scaled back a bit with the latest iteration of the Galaxy S.
Like the idea of the Galaxy S6, but hoping for something that stands out even further? The Galaxy S6 Edge offers the same specs, but adds dual-edges and a few special features that take advantage of the phone’s unique design.
Specs
- 5.1-inch Super AMOLED with 2560 x 1440 resolution, 577 ppi
- Exynos 7420
- 3GB of RAM
- 32/64/128GB storage options (non-expandable)
- 16 MP rear camera with OIS
- 5 MP front-facing camera with 90 degree wide angle lens
- Non-removable 2,550 mAh battery
- 143.4 x 70.5 x 6.8 mm, 138 grams
- 143.4 x 70.5 x 6.8 mm
138 grams - Android 5.0 Lollipop with TouchWiz
HTC One M9
Probably the biggest complaint we had about the One M8 was the fact it stuck to HTC’s less than great Ultrapixel camera approach. The design was excellent, as were the specs and software. With the HTC One M9, all that made the One M8 great makes a return with a few extra coats of polish added and the Ultrapixel camera finally getting the boot.
The new handset looks quite similar to its predecessor, but trades up the specs for a Snapdragon 810, a 20MP rear cam with sapphire cover lens, an UltraPixel front cam and plenty of other improvements that make this handset worth looking out for when it officially starts shipping in the near future.
Specs
- Display 5-inch LCD with Full HD (1920 x 1080), 442 ppi
- 2 Ghz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 810
- 3GB of RAM
- Storage 32GB with microSD slot (up to 128GB)
- Camera 20MP rear cam with sapphire cover lens, UltraPixel front cam
- 2,840 mAh battery
- 144.6 x 69.7 x 9.61 mm, 157 grams
- Android 5.0 with Sense 7.0
Moto X (2014)
With the original Moto X, Motorola proved you don’t need to have the latest specs to get a great user experience. With the second generation, the Lenovo-owned company took no chances and double-downed on the spec side as well, packing the new Moto X (2014) with a dense 5.2-inch AMOLED screen, a beefy processor, and a capable 13MP camera.
The Moto X (2014) is well equipped on the inside, but it’s the customizable skin that really sets it apart from other top Android phones out there. Motorola lets you choose your own combination of colors and materials, including the yet to be matched leather and natural wood options. The ability to harmonize its appearance to different styles makes the Moto a great gift for someone dear this holiday season. Other big selling points are the near-stock interface and Motorola’s proven commitment to bringing fast updates to it. If you’re looking for a balanced, stylish, and capable device, the Moto X (2014) should be high up your list.
Specs
- 5.2-inch AMOLED display with 1080 x 1920 resolution
- 2.5GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 CPU
- 2GB of RAM
- 16/32GB of on-board storage (no microSD slot)
- 13MP rear cam, 2MP front camera
- Non-removable 2300 mAh battery
- 140.8 x 72.4 x 10 mm, 144g
- Customizable via Moto Maker
- Water resistant
- Android 4.4.4 KitKat (Lollipop update coming very soon)
Samsung Galaxy Note 4
Years after Samsung gambled on the original Note, the concept is still the phone to beat when it comes to large devices. While some competitors are offering larger screens, none of them can match the Note 4’s productivity-boosting stylus. The S Pen can truly enhance the way you interact with your phone, with a strong focus on doing actual work, from basic research, to composing a quick message, to multi-tasking. But it’s not just work: basically anything that requires precision and speed can be done better with a stylus.
While Samsung’s TouchWiz Android implementation has a bad reputation, nobody can deny that the Note 4’s feature set is compelling. You can make the most of that 5.7-inch screen with the new and improved multi-tasking tools, and that’s something you simply don’t get on other high-end Android phones. And, with the latest iteration of the series, the Note looks as good as it works, thanks to a finely chamfered aluminum frame. If you’re looking for the ultimate device for getting things done, the Note 4 is probably your best choice.
Specs
- 5.7-inch Super AMOLED display with 1440 x 2560 resolution
- 2.7GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 805 CPU
- 3GB of RAM
- 32GB of on-board storage, microSD expansion up to 128GB
- 16MP rear cam, 3.7MP front cam
- Removable 3220 mAh battery
- 153.5 x 78.6 x 8.5 mm, 176g
- Frosted White, Charcoal Black, Bronze Gold, or Blossom Pink
- Android 4.4.4 KitKat (Lollipop update coming down the pipeline)
Nexus 6
The Nexus 6 is a staple on any list of top Android handsets of the moment, looming large both literally and through what it represents – Google’s vision of what Android software should be like and what hardware that software needs in order to truly shine. That’s always been the case with Nexus devices, but the Motorola-made Nexus 6 is nothing like the understated Nexus 5, which almost vanished in the background to let Android shine through. The Nexus 6 is big and powerful; it makes a statement about its user and it turns heads.
The biggest drawback of the Nexus 6 is the one that makes it stand out – with its six inches display, the Nexus 6 will never be a good choice for everyone. However, if you’re fine with the size, there’s a lot to like about this phone – the screen is amazing, the processing package is top-notch, the camera is powerful, and build quality is as good as any. Plus, even if Motorola and other phonemakers are upping their updates game, Nexus is still the way to go if you like your phones up to date.
Specs
- 5.96-inch Super AMOLED display with 1440 x 2560 resolution
- 2.7GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 805 CPU
- 3GB of RAM
- 32/64GB of on-board storage, non-expandable
- 13MP rear cam, 2MP front cam
- Non-removable 3220 mAh battery
- 159.3 x 83 x 10.1 mm, 184g
- Midnight Blue, Cloud White
- Android 5.0 Lollipop
Best bang for the buck: OnePlus One
OnePlus came out of nowhere to get everyone talking about its “flagship killer.” Of course, OnePlus couldn’t hold all its bold promises, but the Chinese startup didn’t disappoint in one crucial area – the price. There’s simply no competitor delivering what the OnePlus One delivers at $300. And the One isn’t just a great affordable phone; it’s a great phone it its own.
With solid specs, unique features, and the clean CyanogenMod running on it, the OnePlus One is a great proposition for just about any user. All that considered, the device sells for half the price of similar devices, so it can’t miss from our list of best Android smartphones of 2014.
Specs
- 5.5-inch LCD display with 1920 x 1080 resolution
- 2.5GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 CPU
- 3GB of RAM
- 16/64GB of on-board storage, non-expandable
- 13MP rear cam, 5MP front cam
- Non-removable 3,100 mAh battery
- 152.9 x 75.9 x 8.9 mm, 162 g
- Silk White, Sandstone Black
- Android 4.4 KitKat/CyanogenMod 11
Special mention: LG G Flex 2
The first major device of the year, the LG G Flex 2 made quite a big splash when it debuted at CES 2015. Unfortunately, once the first reviews started to surface, it was clear that the phone was attractive, unique and had some impressive specs, but also suffered from some performance issues. Whether these issues are deal breakers depend on who you ask, but ultimately the G Flex 2 is still one of the best options out there if you are looking for something that stands out from the crowd.
The G Flex 2 features an improved self-healing back, a smaller display from its predecessor, and plenty of other enhancements including a Snapdragon 810 processor.
Specs
- 5.5-inch Full HD Curved P-OLED (1080 x 1920 pixels / 403 ppi)
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 64-bit Octa-Core CPU, Adreno 430 GPU
- 2 or 3GB of RAM (depending on storage config)
- 16GB or 32GB, microSD with expansion
- 13MP rear cam with OIS+ and laser auto focus, 2.1MP front cam
- 3000 mAh non-removable
- 149.1 x 75.3 x 7.1-9.4mm, 152g
- Platinum Silver, Flamenco Red
- Android 5.0 Lollipop with LG UI
Source: Android Authority
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