Updated on Oct. 20, 2023
Written by
Andrew Lanxon
Lisa Eadicicco
Patrick Holland
Our expert, award-winning staff selects the products we cover and rigorously researches and tests our top picks. If you buy through our links, we may get a commission.
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Andrew Lanxon Editor At Large, Lead Photographer, Europe
Andrew is CNET’s go-to guy for product coverage and lead photographer for Europe. When not testing the latest phones, he can normally be found with his camera in hand, behind his drums or eating his stash of home-cooked food. Sometimes all at once.
Expertise Smartphones, Photography, iOS, Android, gaming, outdoor pursuits Credentials
Shortlisted for British Photography Awards 2022, Commended in Landscape Photographer of the Year 2022 
Lisa Eadicicco Senior Editor
Lisa Eadicicco is a senior editor for CNET covering mobile devices. She has been writing about technology for almost a decade. Prior to joining CNET, Lisa served as a senior tech correspondent at Insider covering Apple and the broader consumer tech industry. She was also previously a tech columnist for Time Magazine and got her start as a staff writer for Laptop Mag and Tom’s Guide.
Expertise Apple, Samsung, Google, smartphones, smartwatches, wearables, fitness trackers
Patrick Holland Managing Editor
Patrick Holland has been a phone reviewer for CNET since 2016. He is a former theater director who occasionally makes short films. Patrick has an eye for photography and a passion for everything mobile. He is a colorful raconteur who will guide you through the ever-changing, fast-paced world of phones, especially the iPhone and iOS. He used to co-host CNET’s I’m So Obsessed podcast and interviewed guests like Jeff Goldblum, Alfre Woodard, Stephen Merchant, Sam Jay, Edgar Wright and Roy Wood Jr.
Expertise Apple, iPhone, iOS, Android, Samsung, Sony, Google, Motorola, interviews, coffee equipment, cats Credentials
Patrick’s play The Cowboy is included in the Best American Short Plays 2011-12 anthology. He co-wrote and starred in the short film Baden Krunk that won the Best Wisconsin Short Film award at the Milwaukee Short Film Festival.
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Whether you prefer Samsung, Google or OnePlus, there are plenty of Android devices to choose from. But that can also make the buying process more difficult, since it can be hard to know where to start. To help you choose, we’ve researched and tested all the best Android phones you can buy in 2023.
A great phone should have high-quality cameras, long battery life, compelling software features and 5G support. We considered these factors when putting together our list of the best Android phones in 2023, which you can check out below. The CNET team updates this list periodically as we review new products.
What’s the best Android phone?
The Google Pixel 7 Pro sits at the top of our list of best Android phones, largely because it has some of the best cameras found on any phone sold today and represents one of the best values for your dollar on this list. The Pixel 7 Pro also packs a number of convenient features that are unique to it. There are calling tools like the ability for the phone to wait on hold and notify you when a representative becomes available. You can also sharpen old photos that are out of focus to make the subject look clearer. And there’s the ability to automatically caption videos, podcasts, phone calls and more.
There are plenty of other excellent choices out there, however, even though the Pixel 7 Pro is our current favorite.
What about the Pixel 8 Pro?
The Google Pixel 8 Pro is now available, with updates to the camera, along with various software features that make full use of the next generation of Google’s processors. We ran into issues with the cameras during our testing and are holding off on our final review as we work with Google to get to the bottom of things.
Best Android phones of 2023
Google’s latest flagship phone, the Pixel 7 Pro, isn’t a huge overhaul from the already excellent Pixel 6 Pro Google launched last year. But it’s taken that winning formula and made some key tweaks to almost every element, resulting in a superb phone that’s bliss to use. The refreshed camera can take stunning images too, earning its spot among the best flagship phones around. Read our Google Pixel 7 Pro review.
Pros:
• Refreshed design looks great
• Superb cameras
• Clean and enjoyable interface
Cons:
• Battery life could be better
Andrew Lanxon/CNET
Photo Gallery 1/1
Andrew Lanxon/CNET
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The Galaxy S23 is a lot, but in a good way. It’s more than most people need in a phone, but that doesn’t make it any less impressive. Samsung made improvements to the camera’s resolution (200 megapixels compared with 108 megapixels), color tones and dynamic range, while retaining the same edgy design and massive 6.8-inch screen as its predecessor. There’s also a new Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor that’s been optimized specifically for Samsung’s phones, which brings faster performance compared with the Galaxy S22 Ultra.
It may be an understatement to call this phone expensive: It starts at $1,200. But people willing to pay more for a giant screen and a high-quality, versatile camera won’t be disappointed. Read our Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra review.
Pros:
Fast performanceExcellent main cameraBright screenIncluded stylusDouble the storage in the base modelFour generations of Android OS updates
Cons:
High pricePhotos don’t always look naturalNo improvements to fast charging
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Android fans looking for a petite phone don’t have much to choose from. But the 6.1-inch Galaxy S23 provides a compelling option for those who want a phone that feels compact but still provides enough screen space. The Galaxy S23 comes with routine upgrades like a fresh processor (a version of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 that’s been optimized for Samsung’s phones), a slightly new design and a higher-resolution selfie camera. But it’s the Galaxy S23’s larger battery that makes it worth recommending. Read our Samsung Galaxy S23 review.
Pros:
Longer battery lifeAttractive designFour generations of Android OS updatesFast performance
Cons:
Cameras are basically the same as last yearExpensiveNo improvements to fast chargingNo upgrade to base storage
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The Lenovo ThinkPhone by Motorola has a lot going for it, from its palatable regular $700 price to its unique aesthetic, easy compatibility with PCs and smooth 6.6-inch screen. But it’s the ThinkPhone’s incredibly fast charging that truly makes it stand out. It supports 68-watt fast charging and notably comes with a compatible power adapter in the box, making it one of the fastest-charging phones you can buy in the US. In CNET’s testing, the ThinkPhone’s battery went from empty to 92% in 30 minutes.
Every phone has its drawbacks. The cameras on the ThinkPhone struggle in low light, which means it may not take the best photos in dim restaurants and bars. And even though it’s a great value at $700, there are some cheaper alternatives that are also compelling, such as Google’s Pixel 7A. Read our Lenovo ThinkPhone review.
Pros:
Cohesive designIncredibly fast chargingCross functionality with PCsIncredible value for the price
Cons:
The cameras are good, but struggle in low lightThe Google Pixel 7 is $100 less
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The $450 Samsung Galaxy A54 5G proves, you can get a phone with solid performance for a very reasonable price. It packs a 6.4-inch display, an octa-core processor that offers enough power for daily essentials (including light gaming) and a camera that does a decent job of handling your out-and-about snaps. Its 128GB of storage will be enough for most people, and those who need more space can expand it with microSD cards up to 1TB in size.
The $1,400 Sony Xperia 1 V retains all the best features of previous Xperia 1 phones, like a 4K high refresh rate display, expandable storage, cutting-edge cameras with eye-tracking autofocus, a 5,000-mAh battery, a dedicated hardware shutter button and a headphone jack, all wrapped in Sony’s lovely, mundane utilitarian design. The phone brims with numerous quality of life improvements for its target audience of creative types like photographers, filmmakers, musicians and gamers who want nuanced control over the content they make. But its $1,400 price tag keeps this phone squarely aimed beyond most consumers.
The $1,000 Asus ROG Phone 7 Ultimate is a gaming phone that takes nearly every feature to the extreme. It has a 6,000-mAh battery, a 6.7-inch AMOLED with high refresh rate and touch sampling rate, 65W wired charging and even a door on the back for a detachable fan to keep the phone’s Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip as cool as possible. The software is optimized and easily customized for gaming including touch sensitive areas on the sides of the phone that double as shoulder buttons for games.
We test every aspect of a new phone from the battery and processor to the cameras.
John Kim/CNET
We test every phone in real-world scenarios focusing on its features, design, performance, cameras, battery life and overall value. We document our findings in an initial review that is periodically updated when there are new software updates or to compare against new phones from phones from competitors like Apple, Samsung, Google and OnePlus.
Photography
Photography is a major focus for most phones these days, so we take pictures and videos of various subjects in a variety of settings and lighting scenarios. We try out any new camera modes such as Action mode that debuted with the iPhone 14 line or the Unblur photo tool that launched with the Google Pixel 7 series.
Battery life
Battery testing is conducted in a variety of ways. We assess how long a phone lasts during a typical day of use, and note how it performs during more focused sessions of video calls, media streaming and gaming. We also conduct a video playback test, which isn’t always included in the initial review and added later in an update.
Performance
We use benchmarking apps to measure the performance, alongside our own anecdotal experiences using the phone for our review. Of particular note are how graphics and animations look. Are they smooth? Or do they lag or stutter? We also look at how quickly the phone switches between horizontal and vertical orientations and how fast the camera app opens and is ready to take a photo.
We perform processor-heavy tasks like editing photos, exporting videos and playing games. We evaluate whether a newer version of a particular phone includes enough features to make it worth upgrading from older models.
Read more: How We Test Phones
Look at last year’s phones: Companies typically keep previous models around at a discounted price. For example, while you can buy the $699 Pixel 8 or $999 Pixel 8 Pro, Google still sells the Pixel 7 for $599 and the Pixel 7 Pro for $899.
Get more for less with cheap phones: For a fraction of the cost, you can get a solid phone that does almost everything a pricier flagship phone can do. The Google Pixel 6A packs a good camera and costs only $349 before discounts or trade-in offers.
Check your Android type: Some phones, like Google’s Pixel series, run a stock version of Android. Others, like Samsung’s Galaxy phones, have their own software (OneUI) on top of Android. Each type has its own appeal and drawbacks. But if you’ve been rocking a Samsung phone for years, you’ll likely still be more at home on a new Galaxy phone.
Be ready for Black Friday sales: The holidays usually bring big discounts and sales, even on phones.
Test your phone: It’s definitely worth going to a store and trying out a phone before you shell out hundreds of dollars on it.
Find peace of mind with a case: You spent all this time picking a phone, now protect it from damage with a case.
How reliable is an Android phone?
Android phones come in all shapes and sizes. Prices range from just a couple hundred dollars for a basic smartphone to $1,800 for state-of-the-art foldable phones. All the phones on this list are durable, have an IP rating for water and dust resistance and years of software support.
How long does an Android phone last?
While every phone on this list varies in how many years of software support you get and how long you can extend the warranty, most should last you a few years if not more.
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