Best Android Phone 2024: Top Picks for Every Budget Including Pixel, Samsung and OnePlus

Finding the best Android phone in 2024 was no easy task. The year delivered an exceptional lineup of devices from Google, Samsung, OnePlus and others. Whether you prioritise camera quality, battery life or pure performance, there was an Android phone for you. In 2026, shoppers looking for deals are still searching for “best Android phone 2024” as prices drop on these flagship devices. This guide rounds up the top contenders across all price points.

Best Android Phone 2024: Google Pixel 9 Pro

The Google Pixel 9 Pro emerged as the best Android phone of 2024 for most people . It strikes the perfect balance between size, performance, camera quality and price . Unlike the larger XL model, the standard Pixel 9 Pro offers flagship-level specs in a more compact 6.3-inch form factor .

The Pixel 9 Pro packs the same Tensor G4 chip as its bigger sibling, delivering smooth performance and excellent battery efficiency . It features a stunning 6.3-inch OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate . The camera system includes main, ultrawide and 5x telephoto lenses, making it one of the best camera phones available .

Google’s AI features shine on this device. You get free access to Gemini Live, the handy Pixel Screenshots app, and advanced AI editing tools in Google Photos . The phone also comes with seven years of software updates, ensuring it stays secure and feature-rich until 2031 .

Android Authority’s editors named the Pixel 9 Pro their phone of the year . It won by a significant margin in their editorial ranking . However, readers favoured the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra in the popular vote .

Best Android Phone for Camera: Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

If camera quality is your top priority, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra was the best Android phone of 2024 . It features the most powerful and adaptable camera system on any smartphone . The device has not one but two telephoto cameras offering 3x and 5x optical zoom . An additional in-sensor zoom stretches to 10x magnification, giving you meaningful reach to distant subjects .

The main camera boasts an incredible 200 megapixel wide-angle lens . The ultrawide and telephoto lenses are equally excellent . Samsung’s ProVisual Engine offers AI-powered photography tools for both photo and video capture .

Beyond the camera, the S24 Ultra is a true superphone. It has a 6.8-inch display with 2,600 nits of peak brightness and the fastest Android chip of 2024 . The 5,000 mAh battery delivers all-day power, and the included S Pen stylus offers writing and drawing capabilities .

The S24 Ultra won Android Authority’s Reader’s Choice Award for 2024 . It secured over 42% of the final round vote, beating the Pixel 9 Pro . Readers praised its stability, all-round excellence and lack of obvious weaknesses .

Best Budget Android Phone 2024: Google Pixel 8a

For those wanting a top-tier experience without the flagship price, the Google Pixel 8a was the undisputed best budget Android phone of 2024 . At around £499, it offers incredible value for money .

The Pixel 8a packs 2023’s top-tier Google Tensor G3 chip, a quality 6.1-inch OLED screen and Android 15 with many of Google’s advanced AI tools . The 64MP main camera with Google’s AI smarts delivers photos that rival much more expensive phones .

Seven years of software support is unheard of at this price point . The phone will stay secure and up to date until at least May 2031 . Stuff Magazine named it their Mid-Range Phone of the Year for 2024 .

Best Value Flagship: OnePlus 12

The OnePlus 12 proved that you don’t need to spend over £1,000 for a flagship experience . It was named the fifth-best phone of 2024 by Android Authority . The device offers “Pro-level” features without the “Pro” price tag .

The OnePlus 12 features the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, a 5400mAh battery with 100W wired charging, and 50W wireless charging . It can charge from empty to full in just 26 minutes . The device also offers storage expansion capabilities and comes in at a lower price than many competitors .

Interestingly, the OnePlus 12 broke Apple’s four-year streak of making the final four in Android Authority’s reader poll . It knocked the iPhone 16 out of the top four, showing the growing strength of OnePlus as a flagship contender .

Best Mid-Range Android Phones 2024

For shoppers with budgets between £300 and £600, several excellent mid-range options emerged in 2024 .

Samsung Galaxy A55 and A35 offer solid performance at even lower prices, suitable for most smartphone users . Nothing Phone 2a and its Plus variant bring unique transparent designs and clean software experiences . Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Pro Plus delivers impressive specs for a budget-friendly price . Motorola Edge 50 Neo and Edge 50 Fusion provide stylish designs and solid performance .

The Poco F6 and F6 Pro cater to gamers with high-performance chipsets and fast refresh rate displays . The OnePlus Nord 4 rounds out the mid-range offerings with strong battery life and fast charging .

Best Affordable Phone 2024: CMF by Nothing Phone 1

Stuff Magazine named the CMF by Nothing Phone 1 their Affordable Phone of the Year for 2024 . At just £209, this device offers incredible value . It features a stylish utilitarian design with a modular accessory port for kickstands and lanyards .

The phone includes a 2400×1080 OLED HDR screen, a capable 50MP main camera, 8GB of RAM, and excellent battery life thanks to the efficient Dimensity 7300 chipset . It proves that a genuinely budget phone can still deliver on performance and design .

Best Camera Phone 2024: Xiaomi 14 Ultra

For photography enthusiasts, the Xiaomi 14 Ultra was the best camera phone of 2024 . Stuff Magazine awarded it Camera Phone of the Year . The device sits “head and shoulders above every other 2024 smartphone when it comes to camera hardware” .

Leica co-developed the lenses for this phone and created custom colour-processing modes . The results are astonishing, with sharp clarity, low noise, accurate colours and wide dynamic range . The optional case and grip give it the look and feel of a retro rangefinder .

The phone also supports 67mm lens filters, making it a serious tool for mobile photography enthusiasts .

Comparison of Top Android Phones 2024