If you’re wondering which android smartphones are worth your money, stick around! After we run through each product, I’ll give you my personal take—Would I buy it, or would I skip it? No fluff, just my honest opinion. Let’s get into it!
Watch the video version: 20 Best Android Smartphones Head-to-Head - Who Won My Heart?
Google Pixel 9
The stunning 6.3-inch Actua display hits an impressive 2,700 nits peak brightness, making it incredibly visible outdoors and perfect for checking notifications at a glance. The battery life is phenomenal, lasting over 13 hours in testing, which is nearly 4 hours longer than its predecessor. The new Tensor G4 chip paired with 12GB of RAM handles everything smoothly, from quick app launches to seamless multitasking. The phone’s flat edges and polished design make it incredibly comfortable to hold, while Gorilla Glass Victus 2 and IP68 rating ensure durability.
Would I buy it?
Yes – The combination of excellent battery life, premium build quality, and powerful performance makes this a fantastic daily driver.
Google Pixel 9 Pro
The phone features an incredible display with up to 3,000 nits peak brightness, making it one of the brightest screens available. The camera system is outstanding, with a 50MP main sensor, 48MP ultrawide, and a new 42MP front camera for crystal-clear selfies. The device comes with 16GB of RAM and will receive seven years of OS updates, ensuring long-term value. The sculpted design puts the camera front and center with an evolution of the iconic camera bar, while maintaining a premium feel with its silky matte glass back.
Would I buy it?
Yes – With its superior camera system and top-tier specifications, it’s worth the premium price for those who want the absolute best.
Moto G Play
The phone’s limited 4GB RAM struggles with basic tasks, and the camera is actually a downgrade from last year’s model. While it does offer a 90Hz display, the resolution is only HD+ at 1600 x 720, which looks noticeably less sharp than competitors. The charging is painfully slow with only 15W capability, and there’s no charger included in the box. Despite having a large 5000mAh battery, the inefficient processor means you’re not getting the best possible battery life.
Would I buy it?
No – The dated specifications and compromised performance make it hard to recommend, even at its budget price point.
Samsung Galaxy A35 5G
The phone impresses with its 120Hz Super AMOLED display that reaches 1000 nits brightness, making it excellent for outdoor visibility. It’s built to last with IP67 water resistance and comes with a generous 5000mAh battery. The triple camera setup with a 50MP main sensor delivers solid performance for its price range. The device runs on Android 14 with One UI 6.1, providing a smooth and feature-rich experience.
Would I buy it?
Yes – The combination of a great display, solid build quality, and comprehensive feature set makes it an excellent mid-range choice.
Samsung Galaxy S24 FE
The stunning 6.7-inch display delivers an impressive 1,900 nits peak brightness with vibrant colors that make everything pop, and the 120Hz refresh rate ensures buttery-smooth animations. The powerful Exynos 2400e chipset offers 2X faster processing power and 18% improvement in ray tracing compared to its predecessor, making it perfect for demanding games like Diablo Immortal. The camera system is incredibly versatile with a 50MP main shooter, 12MP ultrawide, and 8MP telephoto with 3x optical zoom, producing detailed shots that rival even the OnePlus 12. The phone comes loaded with Galaxy AI features including Interpreter Mode, Circle to Search, Chat Assist, and impressive photo editing tools that make it a complete package.
Would I buy it?
Yes – The S24 FE offers flagship-level features at $649.99, making it an incredible value proposition with its stunning display and powerful performance.
Google Pixel 8a
The thick bezels are embarrassingly outdated and make the phone look cheap compared to similarly priced competitors. The 18W charging is frustratingly slow, taking over an hour and a half to fully charge, which is unacceptable for a phone at this price point. The speaker quality is disappointing, being not loud enough and sounding muffled at full volume. The Tensor G3 chip delivers inconsistent performance with various bugs and quirks that impact daily use.
Would I buy it?
No – Despite having good cameras, the combination of slow charging, thick bezels, and performance issues make it hard to recommend, especially when the Pixel 7a offers better value.
Samsung Galaxy A15
The phone features a decent 6.5-inch FHD+ Super AMOLED display with 90Hz refresh rate, though it’s not quite as smooth as 120Hz panels. Battery life is impressive with its 5,000mAh capacity and 25W fast charging support, which is a notable upgrade from its predecessor. The camera system, while good for its price range with a 50MP main sensor and 5MP ultrawide, still struggles in low-light conditions. The MediaTek Dimensity 6100+ processor provides adequate performance, but don’t expect flagship-level speeds.
Would I buy it?
Maybe – At around $200, it offers good value with its AMOLED display and decent camera system, but there are some compromises in performance and build quality.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6
The phone suffers from an obvious crease in the display that becomes particularly noticeable in sunlight, despite the increased brightness to 2,600 nits. The camera system hasn’t been upgraded from previous generations and falls significantly short compared to the S24 Ultra, mainly due to space constraints in the foldable chassis. The cramped front cover screen still feels too narrow for comfortable typing, and the minimal improvements over its predecessor don’t justify its astronomical price. The device has various fit and finish issues, including protruding SIM tray and ultra-wideband window, which is unacceptable for a phone at this price point.
Would I buy it?
No – Despite being an engineering marvel, the minimal improvements, persistent display crease, and unjustified price hike make it hard to recommend over competitors or even its predecessor.
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
The display is absolutely stunning, offering up to 2,600 nits of brightness and delivering fantastic visuals in both bright light and dim rooms. The performance is blazing fast, putting even the Pixel 8 Pro to shame, and I never experienced any hitches while multitasking between dozens of apps. The cameras have stepped back from Samsung’s typical over-saturated look, now providing a more natural and idealized appearance similar to the Pixel 8 Pro. The battery life is impressive, though it did take a hit during intense gaming sessions, dropping to about 76% after 30 minutes of play.
Would I buy it?
Yes – The S24 Ultra is the ultimate Android powerhouse with its superior display, exceptional performance, and stellar camera system.
Samsung Galaxy S21 FE
The 6.4-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X screen is vibrant and bright, making streaming and gaming an absolute treat. While the processor packs plenty of power, I noticed some laggy software issues that can be frustrating during daily use. The cameras capture very colorful photos, though Samsung’s scene optimization tends to over-saturate everything. The battery life is underwhelming, and the slow charging speed means you’ll be tethered to the charger longer than you’d like.
Would I buy it?
Maybe – Despite its capable hardware and attractive screen, the high price and battery issues make it a tough sell.
OnePlus Nord N30 5G
The phone’s 50-watt SuperVooc charging is incredibly fast, getting me from zero to 75% in just 30 minutes. The 120Hz refresh rate display makes everything look smooth and responsive, while the 5,000mAh battery keeps going strong. Performance is impressive thanks to the Snapdragon 695 chip and 8GB of RAM, handling multitasking and gaming with ease. The phone even reached impressive 5G speeds of 762Mbps on T-Mobile’s network, outperforming competitors.
Would I buy it?
Yes – With its blazing-fast charging, smooth display, and solid performance at a budget price, it’s an incredible value proposition.
Motorola Razr Plus 2024
The new hinge mechanism is 30% smaller and gives that satisfying snap when opening and closing, reminiscent of the original Razr. The main display can reach an impressive claimed brightness of 3,000 nits, though I’m a bit skeptical of that number. The cameras have been significantly improved, especially in low-light conditions, with much better saturation and clarity compared to last year’s model. Battery life has been extended, and the phone now features improved durability with an IPX8 rating.
Would I buy it?
Maybe – While the improvements in durability and camera performance are impressive, some AI features are still pending, and the price remains a consideration.
OnePlus Watch 2
The design is absolutely stunning, mixing subtle aesthetics with a decent-sized screen that draws inspiration from their recent phone lineup like the OnePlus 11 and 12. Performance is incredibly smooth without any lag, allowing me to run complex watch faces without worrying about slowdowns. The battery life is a game-changer, lasting up to 4 days on a single charge which is unheard of for a Wear OS smartwatch. The interface is intuitive and works exactly how you’d expect a smartwatch to work, making it perfect for newcomers to the smartwatch world.
Would I buy it?
Yes – This watch offers the perfect balance of performance and battery life, and the 4-day battery life on Wear OS is revolutionary.
Nothing Phone 2
The unique design immediately catches your eye with its distinctive glyph interface, though these lights remain more of a cool gimmick than a practical feature. The display is impressive with LTPO technology that can go from 1Hz to 120Hz, making it perfect for an always-on display without killing the battery. The performance is solid with the Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1, though the camera app can be unresponsive at times. The rounded glass back is quite slippery and prone to falling off surfaces, which is concerning for durability.
Would I buy it?
Maybe – While the unique design and solid performance are appealing, the durability concerns and gimmicky features make it a questionable choice.
OnePlus Open
The hardware and build quality are exceptional with a great hinge mechanism that creates a barely visible crease. The displays are impressive with 2,800 nits of brightness and an anti-reflective layer that puts it ahead of the competition. The software experience, while not bad, feels unpolished and needs optimization for the foldable form factor. The camera performance remains stellar, but OxygenOS needs more refinement to compete with Samsung and Google’s offerings.
Would I buy it?
No – Despite great hardware, the software optimization issues and high price point make it hard to recommend over competitors.
Xiaomi 14 Ultra
The performance is absolutely incredible, with benchmark scores beating even the Galaxy S24 Ultra and showing minimal throttling under heavy loads. The display is stunning with its 522 pixels per inch density and an impressive 3000 nits peak brightness that makes outdoor visibility a breeze. The stereo speakers are quite loud and perfect for media consumption, though they lack some bass compared to competitors. The haptics throughout the interface are precisely tuned, providing assertive but not annoying feedback that can be adjusted to your preference.
Would I buy it?
Yes – The combination of top-tier performance and display quality makes this an excellent choice, especially with its impressive thermal management.
Honor Magic6 Pro
The phone packs impressive hardware with a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, 12GB RAM, and a striking 180MP periscope telephoto lens that’s part of their unique ‘Star Wheel’ camera setup. While the 6.8-inch OLED display boasts a stunning 5,000-nit peak HDR brightness and 120Hz refresh rate, the Magic OS software feels less polished compared to competitors like Samsung’s One UI. The 5,600mAh silicon-carbon battery delivers exceptional endurance with fast charging capabilities, though the phone tends to get quite warm under heavy gaming loads. The camera system performs admirably in most lighting conditions, though it has a tendency to oversaturate blues in skies and water, while the selfie camera artificially lightens skin tones.
Would I buy it?
Maybe – While the hardware specs are impressive and the battery life is stellar, the software experience and thermal management under load make it a tough sell at its premium price point.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6
The latest flip phone from Samsung brings refined design elements matching the Galaxy S24 series, featuring a matte finish and a minimized display crease on its 6.7-inch main screen with 2,600 nits peak brightness. The phone offers great performance and clean software with an impressive 7-year support promise, though the 3.4-inch cover screen experience remains unnecessarily complicated, requiring additional apps for full functionality. Battery life has improved significantly compared to previous generations, lasting a full day with heavy use, but the 25W charging speed lags behind competitors. While the build quality is excellent with Armor Aluminum frame and Gorilla Glass Victus 2 protection, the side rails can become uncomfortable to hold during extended use, especially when the device warms up.
Would I buy it?
Maybe – Despite its refined design and improved battery life, the complicated cover screen experience and relatively slow charging speed make it a mixed bag, especially at its $1,100 price point.
Thanks for watching, I hope this video helped you pick the android smartwatches for you. If you have any questions, drop a comment below. Links to all of these products mentioned in this video will be in the description.