Best Android phones 2021: The 13 top phones with Android right now

Introduction

The best Android smartphones span the whole mobile market from cheaper devices to those that cost over £/$1000. 

This diversity means it can be tricky picking which one is right for you. Thankfully, we’ve compiled this list of the best Android phones so you can choose your next upgrade with ease.

This guide encompasses various areas, from cheaper devices to flagships that command high prices. There are great choices here for those looking for strong cameras, the ideal phones for gaming and those with the best screens.

We know that phones are more than just a collection of specs and features so we use all the phones we review as we would our own over an extended period, living with them to discover any hidden issues that aren’t on the spec sheet. Find out more about how we test phones.

This guide is designed to help anyone looking for a new Android narrow down their search and we have curated the best Android phones from the devices we’ve reviewed. If you prefer Apple devices, you’ll want to head over to our best iPhones guide for a full breakdown of all the latest iOS handsets, including the recent iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro. Of course, Apple or Android, the phones on these lists can get pretty pricey. If you’re looking to stick to a budget, you may be interested in our best cheap phones guide, which covers the best affordable phones we’ve tested recently.

While this list contains condensed versions of our reviews, you can follow the links out to our full in-depth rundowns of each phone.



How we test

Learn more about how we test mobile phones  Every phone we review goes through a series of uniform checks designed to gauge key things including build quality, screen accuracy, battery life, performance and camera prowess.These include formal synthetic benchmarks and scripted tests, plus a series of real world checks, such as how much battery it loses per hour streaming video.We also make sure to use every phone we review as our primary handset for at least 4 days to ensure our review is as accurate as possible. You can see a more detailed breakdown of our testing methodology in our how we test phones guide.








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Asus ROG Phone 5



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Pros


Long-lasting, fast-charging battery
144Hz AMOLED screen
Fantastic stereo speakers




Cons


No telephoto camera
No wireless charging
Fantastic stereo speakers




£699







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Google Pixel 4a



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Pros


Great camera
Refreshingly small size for an Android phone
The promise of fast updates
Nice, sharp OLED screen
Affordable




Cons


You’ll find competition with far larger spec sheets and feature lists
Some mild performance and touch latency hiccups
As well as being a Pro, the small screen might put some off






£349$349







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Google Pixel 5



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Pros


Typically fantastic Pixel camera
Improved video recording features
Far better battery life than Pixel 4
Small design is refreshing
The price is great




Cons


Design a little bland
An XL version would have been a nice option
Cameras lack the versatility of some rivals
No face unlock





£599$699







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OnePlus 9



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Pros


Well calibrated screen that’s perfect for gamers and movie fans
Solid camera with an advanced pro mode for tinkerers
Outstanding, future proof performance




Cons


Lack of variable refresh rate means the screen eats up battery in its highest setting
Camera’s image processing can be a little heavy handed





£629$729







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OnePlus 9 Pro



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Pros


Excellent screen
Fast wired and wireless charging is a dream
One of the best versions of Android
Impressive ultra-wide camera




Cons


The camera can be frustratingly slow to open
No great zoom skills and better photos taken elsewhere
Not widely available on contract





£829$970







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Oppo Find X3 Pro



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Pros


Thin and light for a 6.7-inch phone
Adaptive 120Hz display is gorgeous and highly customisable
Oppo’s software has seen huge improvements




Cons


Battery life not as good as the Galaxy S21 Ultra
Loses the periscope zoom skills of the Find X2 Pro
Vibration motor is terrible




£1099







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Realme X50 5G



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Pros


Very good battery life
Low price for a 5G phone
Well-specced 120Hz screen
Strong general and gaming performance
Surprisingly capable main camera, even at night




Cons


Two of the rear cameras are filler
No headphone jack







£299.99







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Samsung Galaxy A52 5G



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Pros


Great screen
Long battery life
Years of support
OIS is welcome




Cons


Design is a bit basic
Secondary cameras aren’t good






£399







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Samsung Galaxy S20 FE



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Pros


Snapdragon 865 even in the UK model
Better battery life than other S20 models
Nice range of colours
Flat 120Hz display




Cons


You have to pay more for the faster charger
Secondary cameras aren’t the most detailed






£599







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Samsung Galaxy S21



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Pros


Much more affordable at launch than S20
Still a great screen (and it’s flat)
Snappy performance




Cons


Lack of microSD and WQHD+ resolution make it feel like an S20 downgrade
Doesn’t feel as good as previous S series phones
Minimal camera upgrades




£769$799







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Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra



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Pros


Great screen thanks to WQHD+ and 120Hz
Much-improved design with an attractive finish
Far more versatile camera than the iPhone 12 Pro Max




Cons


Expensive, with many cheaper phones offering the same features
Big and heavy
No charger included




£1149$1199







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Xiaomi Mi 11



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Pros


Strong display
Excellent performance in all areas
Likely far more affordable than similarly specced phones
Quick to charge




Cons


It’s very big, with no smaller option
The software is buggy
No IP rating
Camera choices aren’t always the best




£749







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Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro



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Pros


Best in class 120Hz AMOLED display
108MP camera capable of fine things
Excellent stamina from 5020mAh
Bargain price tag




Cons


No 5G
Camera disappoints in less-than-ideal lighting






$279













Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra

The best Android phone



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Pros

Best screen aroundAn excellent, versatile cameraLovely design

Cons

No chargerExpensiveNo microSD slot

The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra is the most advanced phone in the S21 range and our top choice for any Android user seeking an upgrade in 2021. The S21 Ultra is a fantastic all-rounder and offers up plenty of improvements over its predecessor. Standout features include the WQHD+ 120Hz display and versatile quad-camera, but these are packed up by Samsung’s sizable RAM and storage offerings and the capable Exynos 2100 processor. One of the biggest upgrades found on the S21 Ultra is the adaptive refresh rate. While this feature was also available on the S20 Ultra, you couldn’t enable 120Hz while also running the display at its max WQHD+ resolutions. This time around, there are no compromises to be made with both features able to run at the same time. The quad-camera has also been dramatically improved with the addition of dual 10MP zoom lenses. We also experienced fewer issues focussing the camera and found it produced a beautiful bokeh effect when shooting with the 108MP f/1.8 lens – check out our review for some adorable puppy pics. If you can stomach paying over £/$1000 for your phone and don’t mind the extra weight, the S21 Ultra is one of the best Android phones available. Reviewer: Max Parker Full review: Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra review













Oppo Find X3 Pro

A worthy follow-up to the excellent X2 Pro



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Pros

Great screen thanks to WQHD+ and 120HzMuch-improved design with an attractive finishFar more versatile camera than the iPhone 12 Pro Max

Cons

Expensive, with many cheaper phones offering the same featuresBig and heavyNo charger included

The Oppo Find X3 Pro is one of the best Android phones around. If you’re not keen on the hefty size of the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra then it does offer an alternative thanks to a far slimmer body.It takes excellent pictures and has one of the best screens on any phone you can buy, with performance matching top releases from Samsung and OnePlus.We heaped much praise on the X2 Pro last year mostly for its camera, and Oppo has once again impressed here. Both the wide and ultra-wide cameras are fantastic, with nice bright colour and plenty of versatility. We do bemoan the lack of a periscope zoom for superior zoomed shot though, something we loved about the X2 Pro.What Oppo has improved in the year since the X2 Pro’s release is the software. The version of Android Oppo uses now is far cleaner, far more reliable and much more like Google’s vision. Reviewer: Max ParkerFull review: Oppo Find X3 Pro review













OnePlus 9 Pro

OnePlus impresses once again



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Pros

Thin and light for a 6.7-inch phoneAdaptive 120Hz display is gorgeous and highly customisableOppo’s software has seen huge improvements

Cons

Battery life not as good as the Galaxy S21 UltraLoses the periscope zoom skills of the Find X2 ProVibration motor is terrible

If you want the best OnePlus phone going then you need the OnePlus 9 Pro. When compared to the OnePlus 9, the Pro model has a sharper 1440p display, a full metal body, a proper IP68 water resistance rating and very fast wireless charging.Other features here include a good Hasselblad-branded camera system with a main 48MP sensor and an excellent 50MP ultra-wide, along with a battery that can be fully recharged in about 30 minutes.Performance is fantastic thanks to the Snapdragon 888 chipset and, aside from a slow camera app, the software is among the best you’ll find on any Android phone. Reviewer: Max ParkerFull review: OnePlus 9 Pro review













Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro

The best cheap Android right now



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Pros

Excellent screenFast wired and wireless charging is a dreamOne of the best versions of AndroidImpressive ultra-wide camera

Cons

The camera can be frustratingly slow to openNo great zoom skills and better photos taken elsewhereNot widely available on contract

The Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro stands out in a crowded budget space thanks to a stunning 120Hz AMOLED display, capable 108MP camera and excellent battery life.It’s not the prettiest handset on the market, and you’ll have to be prepared to make do without 5G connectivity. Even so, there aren’t many phones on the market today that give you more for your money. In terms of pricing, the official UK price hasn’t been announced yet, however a global price of $279 has been set so it should around that mark. Reviewer: Jon Mundy Full review: Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro review













Samsung Galaxy S21

A cheaper alternative to the S21 Ultra in two sizes



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Pros

Best in class 120Hz AMOLED display108MP camera capable of fine thingsExcellent stamina from 5020mAhBargain price tag

Cons

No 5GCamera disappoints in less-than-ideal lighting

The Samsung Galaxy S21 and its larger Galaxy S21 Plus sibling are both excellent choices if you want a new Samsung phone without paying above and beyond for the Ultra’s more advanced specs. Both these S series phones are powered by the same Exynos 2100 processor and pack the same future-proof 5G support as its Ultra sibling – all at a much more tempting price. The S21 includes a 6.2-inch FHD+ display with an adaptive 48/120Hz refresh rate to conserve energy while offering smooth, responsive scrolling. While the 1080p resolution is technically a downgrade from last year’s S20, the screen remains suitably bright and sharp and the introduction of an adaptive refresh rate is a welcome one. You’ll find all the same specs on the S21 Plus, just with a bigger 6.7-inch display.These phones also pack a very reliable camera housed in a newly revamped module on the back. The triple setup includes a 12MP wide sensor, a 12MP ultra-wide sensor and a 64MP zoom sensor. There’s a 10MP selfie camera on the front and up to 8K video capabilities. The colours produced by this camera are vivid and the ultra-wide lens is one of the best we’ve tried, with detail and little blurring. Unlike previous years, there are very few differences between the S21 and S21 Plus – hence us combining them into one entry. You do get a glass back, as opposed to plastic, on the Plus model and as it’s bigger you’ll find a bigger battery inside.Reviewer: Max Parker Full review: Samsung Galaxy S21 review Reviewer: Alastair Stevenson Full review: Samsung Galaxy S21 Plus review













Asus ROG Phone 5

The best gaming phone



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Pros

Much more affordable at launch than S20Still a great screen (and it’s flat)Snappy performance

Cons

Lack of microSD and WQHD+ resolution make it feel like an S20 downgradeDoesn’t feel as good as previous S series phonesMinimal camera upgrades

If you want a phone for gaming, that really does look like a gaming phone then the Asus ROG Phone 5 should be your pick. The device is outlandish in several areas and likely overkill for many but we can’t help but love it.Let’s just look at some of the high-end specs first. There’s a 144Hz OLED display, stereo speakers, up to 16GB RAM and a whopping 6000mAh battery.You’ve also got RGB lighting on the back, a couple of touch-sensitive triggers that support tap and slide interaction on the top and a duo of USB-C ports. Multiple gaming-focused accessories are available too.Of course, there are sacrifices made to make a phone like this. The camera system is good, not great, and there’s no telephoto camera. Wireless charging is missing too. Reviewer: Basil KronfliFull review: Asus ROG Phone 5 review













OnePlus 9

The cheaper OnePlus 9 is a strong buy



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