5 Android Smartphones to Check Out This Year

5 Android Smartphones to Check Out This Year

From mighty flagships like Samsung and Google—to the cutting edge in feature-rich budget devices like the OnePlus Nord—there’s bound to be an Android handset out there for you. The trick to finding the best Android phone for you is to identify what features will improve your life. From crystal clear displays, to state-of-the-art cameras, or oodles of built-in storage, the following Android smartphones are consistently ranked tops by this year’s consumers:

1. Google Pixel 7
Google released Android’s version 13 in early 2023, touting it as the first phone to ship with the new software. Indeed, Android 13 delivers on its promise with its stunning OLED screen, impressive camera, and custom Tensor ARM chip, which offers Pixel users a seamlessly smooth and responsive experience thanks to its support for on-device machine learning. The Pixel 7 is for sale unlocked with support for all the major carriers like AT&T and Verizon, across 4G and 5G, starting at $600 USD.

2. Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
Reputed as the top phone in Samsung’s lineup, the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ulta is your best bet if you miss the advantages of the former Galaxy Note series, which is no longer in production. Luckily, the Galaxy S23 Ultra offers basically the same functionality with a bonus—an exclusive version of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor, which means faster CPU and GPU than other Gen 2 devices. This literally makes the Galaxy S23 Ultra the speediest Android phone available. Users report that the S23 Ultra runs Fortnite smoother than even the Pixel 7! Plus, with its unique screen curves, this design is much easier to hold considering its size and weight. Priced starting at $1199 USD.

3. Asus Zenfone 9
Small hands got you dropping your phone all the time? Luckily, the Asus Zenfone 9 is here to save you yet another screen replacement. This Zenfone is among the tinier Android phones with its mere 5.9-inch AMOLED screen and textured backside, which makes it that much easier to keep a hold on. Don’t worry, it’s small stature doesn’t compromise the power of this little device—with it’s Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset from 2022, 120-Hz screen display, dual camera and stereo speakers (with a celebrated headphone jack), and Asus’ special gimbal system, which delivers pretty smooth stabilization for video viewing. Prices start at $599 USD.

4. OnePlus 11
Giving the Galaxy S23 Ultra some competition is this year’s OnePlus 11. This android offers impressive battery life, smooth performance, and the very best OnePlus cameras ever! Plus, the super study construction quality with it’s notorious curved display and front camera hole-punch cutout in the top left corner that devotees of this brand just love. Considering the low price of $699 USD, this android does have a few compromises compared to its pricer competitors—including no wireless charging. However, if you’re seeking a quality android with top-notch hardware offered at a low price, this is the phone for you.

5. Fairphone 4
If you’re seeking an android with a reduced carbon footprint, the Fairphone 4 is right up your alley. The eco-conscious Fairphone 4 is constructed from 100 percent recycled plastic, and the camera, speaker, earpiece, USB-C port, screen, back cover, and battery are completely removable and replaceable with a screwdriver. Further peace of mind can be found in the phone’s Fairtrade Gold certification, which claims all material extraction for this phone is sourced from conflict-free mines according to eco-friendly guidelines on metal extraction and fair wages for workers. If that’s not enough, the Fairphone is also electronic-waste-neutral too—meaning that for every phone sold, an equivalent amount of e-waste goes to recycling. It promises two Android OS updates (and hopes to deliver two more). As for features, this phone offers a five-year warranty, Qualcomm Snapdragon 750G, and pretty impressive battery life. As of now the Fairphone is only sold to US users from Europe at €529.00 or $579.41 USD, and works everywhere, all the time, anytime, as long as there’s a 2G network available.