We test a lot of Android phones. We like the following options, but you’ll be better off with one of the options above. If you haven’t done so, check it out Best cheap phone instructions for more information.
OnePlus 9 for $730 and OnePlus 9 Pro for $889: These are the most expensive OnePlus phones ever (8/10, Recommend with WIRED), but they’re finally improving on a component that has long plagued the company’s predecessors: the camera. The rest of the hardware is great as usual, however, neither phone has a real standout feature. OnePlus also promises only three Android OS upgrades and four years of security updates. The company announced OnePlus 10 Prowill come to the United States in the coming months.
Sony Xperia 1 III for $1,298: Sony’s latest Xperia is great for those who enjoy tinkering with settings in the camera app, or prefer to take photos or videos in manual mode. The camera experience is fun, but it still doesn’t deliver better results than some of our top picks above. You get top performance, a stunning 120 Hz 4K OLED display, loud stereo speakers, wireless charging and a headphone jack! It’s so expensive. And 5G here is just sub-6, shouldn’t happen on $1,300 phones (5G doesn’t work on AT&T either).
Asus Zenfone 8 for $700: If you’re after the smallest, most powerful Android phone available today, look no further than the Zenfone 8. The 5.9-inch screen is small compared to most flagship phones — and this To be a flagship thanks to the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 inside. You also get a 120 Hz AMOLED display, a headphone jack, and all-day battery life. However, it doesn’t work on Verizon and the camera system is fine. Ours review with more details.
Samsung Galaxy A52 5G for $400: It’s not the most interesting phone, but the A52 5G (7/10, Recommend with WIRED) reliable. It works well, has a reliable camera system and has 120 Hz AMOLED display. It will receive three operating system upgrades and four years of security updates. It usually sells for around $400.
Motorola One 5G Ace for $330: Motorola phones have the best battery life, and the Ace is no exception. It has two days of battery life, and you get good performance, 5G connectivity, NFC for contactless payments (rare on a budget Moto), plus a large 1080p display. No wonder the camera is underexposed. It is expected get Android 12 update (despite the expectation).
