This was the primary yr that an organization was capable of persuade me to change my main telephone from an iPhone to Android. Google’s Pixel 9 Professional was palms down the most effective Android telephone this yr. With its seamless Gemini integration, stunning design, and superb options, it really was the telephone that beat all telephones this yr.
We will’t low cost the OnePlus 12 as a result of not solely was it a fantastic telephone, however it additionally helped Android Central decide that OnePlus actually has been essentially the most improved Android model of the yr.
I believe what shocked me essentially the most was that there weren’t that many nice foldable releases from Google or Samsung, and many of the higher foldable telephones this yr got here from manufacturers exterior of the U.S. Honor’s Magic V3 clearly made the most effective foldable this yr. In fact, the telephone that persistently impresses me is the Razr Plus 2024, which was this yr’s greatest flip telephone winner.
Here is what a few of my colleagues must say in regards to the winners. Congratulations!
Finest Android telephone: Google Pixel 9 Professional
Nick Sutrich: In a sea of telephones that really feel comparable, Google has finished a monumental job of creating a telephone that feels completely different — even when it seems to be a bit of an excessive amount of like an iPhone on the skin for a few of us. The Google Pixel 9 Professional is Android Central’s favourite telephone of the yr due to its capacity to pack the most effective of the Pixel 9 Professional XL in a smaller physique, together with the killer triple rear cameras that used to solely come on the largest and costliest Pixel telephones.
Not solely that, however Google’s capacity to make use of Gemini on the core of the Pixel expertise to distinguish it from the pack is one thing to have a good time. Nice new apps like Pixel Screenshots are recreation changers for what Google does greatest — search — whereas enhancements to the general interface and consumer expertise with helpful AI options made this the favourite of most Android Central employees.
It may not have acquired the best rating of all of the premium telephones we reviewed this yr, however there’s one thing particular in regards to the Pixel 9 Professional that stored us coming again and wanting extra regardless of the faults we discovered with it.
Runner-up: OnePlus 12
Our runner-up is the OnePlus 12. I’ll admit it: I haven’t cared a few OnePlus telephone in years, and primarily based on the numbers, most of you haven’t both. However the OnePlus 12 modified all that, and it not solely obtained folks speaking in regards to the model once more, however it additionally obtained them to start out shopping for OnePlus telephones once more.
Every thing about this telephone reveals the most effective of OnePlus. From feature-rich software program that’s blazing quick and smoother than another telephone to stupidly quick charging that will get you a top-up in minutes and even one of the eye-friendly OLEDs within the enterprise, it’s practically unimaginable to not love the OnePlus 12. That makes it our runner-up for greatest telephone of the yr.
Finest worth telephone: Google Pixel 8a
Harish Jonnalagadda: It ought to come as no shock that the Pixel 8a is the most effective mid-range telephone of 2024. It continues to have the most effective cameras on this class, and Google did a fantastic job with the design this time — if something, I desire it to the Pixel 9 Professional on this regard. Whereas the digicam modules aren’t the most recent, Google excels at eking out the absolute best pictures and movies; there are different telephones that come near the Pixel 8a, however none can meet its consistency.
Google additionally made constructive strides with the OLED panel, and it now goes as much as 120Hz and will get considerably brighter even underneath harsh daylight. These are all constructive enhancements, however it’s the software program that makes the Pixel 8a really stand out — it’s the solely mid-range telephone with a clear interface and long-term replace assure. With Google promising seven years of Android OS updates, it should keep related till 2031, which is not the case with another reasonably priced Android telephone.
Runner-up: OnePlus 12R
Coming in second is the OnePlus 12R. OnePlus determined to promote the telephone globally beginning this yr, and that finally turned out to be the correct name; the telephone has the most effective {hardware} package deal on this phase, and though I nonetheless give the sting to the Pixel 8a due to its software program, the 12R is a lot better at gaming, has a much bigger battery, and unmatched quick charging tech.
Finest digicam telephone: Vivo X100 sequence
Nick Sutrich: Android Central employees voted on the greatest telephone digicam of the yr, however the outcomes weren’t even shut. The Vivo X100 sequence took house 14 of our 20 whole votes, and it’s no shock, given how successfully the telephone can change a DSLR-style digicam in most conditions. Vivo’s software program is extraordinarily user-friendly but provides highly effective choices for folk who want it to do greater than they could anticipate from a telephone.
My favourite a part of the Vivo expertise is the convincing portrait-style pictures the telephone creates from practically any zoom stage and with any topic. Taking pictures of your meals is all of the sudden remodeled right into a magazine-quality expertise, and all the pieces from group pictures to panorama photographs is just gorgeous because of the telephone’s correct colours, crisp particulars, and skill to seize movement with out that telltale smartphone blur.
Runner-up: Google Pixel 9 Professional
The runner-up isn’t any shock as a result of Google Pixel telephones sometimes win the most effective digicam in any given yr. The Google Pixel 9 Professional is the most effective digicam you should purchase within the U.S., certainly. Google’s photograph high quality is all the time top-notch, and it is without doubt one of the most dependable digicam telephones you should utilize. Whenever you take a photograph with a Pixel, there’s nearly by no means a time it’s not a very good photograph.
Google ramped issues up a notch this yr with superior new options like Add Me, which assist get the photographer within the group shot by cleverly utilizing AI to sew two photos collectively. Because of some glorious UI design and options which can be persistently enjoyable to make use of, the Pixel 9 Professional is the digicam telephone to get for those who can’t get a Vivo X100.
Finest foldable telephone: Honor Magic V3
Andrew Myrick: Effectively, would not you already know it? Neither Samsung nor Google will take house the “greatest foldable telephone” crown in 2024. As an alternative, it is the Honor Magic V3 that continues to show heads and impress regardless of not even being out there in North America.
The Magic V3 packs a punch in all the correct methods, beginning with a design that’s each extremely glossy and lightweight. As famous in our assessment, “The Galaxy S24 Extremely is 2g heavier than the Magic V3,” which is simply insane when you think about the V3 gives a 6.43-inch cowl show and a 7.92-inch inside display screen.
Honor made only a few sacrifices with the Magic V3, with the largest concern being the “common battery life.” Moreover that, we’ve flagship specs throughout the board, with the V3 being powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. Honor did not skimp on the cameras both, with the array comprised of a 50MP important, 50MP periscope telephoto, and a 40MP ultrawide.
Runner-up: Google Pixel 9 Professional Fold
Coming in second place was the Pixel 9 Professional Fold, which Google took in a totally surprising route. As an alternative of trying to refine the passport fashion from the unique Pixel Fold, the 9 Professional Fold is extra in step with the OnePlus Open and the aforementioned Honor Magic V3.
The Pixel 9 Professional Fold’s cowl display screen is identical dimension because the Pixel 9 whereas unfolding to disclose a wonderful 8-inch AMOLED show. It is powered by Google’s newest Tensor G4, paired with 16GB of RAM and as much as 512GB of storage. Even the battery life is implausible, simply lasting for greater than a day with common use. We simply actually want it had the identical cameras because the Pixel 9 Professional and 9 Professional XL.
Finest flip telephone: Motorola Razr Plus 2024
Derrek Lee: Motorola has had one thing of a resurgence in recent times. Whereas Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip lineup has been fairly same-y for the previous couple of generations, Motorola got here out of left subject with a revamped Razr in 2023, then gave it a fairly substantial improve in 2024.
The Motorola Razr Plus 2024 is technically not essentially the most highly effective flip telephone available on the market — that distinction goes to the Galaxy Z Flip 6 and its extra highly effective chipset — nevertheless, Motorola makes up for it in different methods, with the general expertise culminating in a telephone that I haven’t needed to place down since I obtained my palms on it. The design feels so refined with a robust hinge, IPX8 water resistance, and vegan leather-based on the again of each mannequin.
I even have nearly no complaints in regards to the specs; the Snapdragon 8S Gen 3 and 12GB of RAM really feel lots speedy, the 4,000mAh battery doesn’t make me really feel nervous, and the brand new 50MP main digicam takes pictures that I can really use. Plus, the 4-inch cowl display screen is a blast to make use of, with entry to almost your entire apps.
Runner-up: Xiaomi Combine Flip
Whereas the Razr Plus 2024 received practically unanimously, the runner-up was the Xiaomi Combine Flip, which includes a extra highly effective Snapdragon chipset and an equally giant (though larger by 0.01 inches) cowl display screen. As Xiaomi’s first flip telephone, the Combine Flip is kind of spectacular, with a surprising design, a fantastic set of Leica-powered cameras, and a surprisingly giant battery for a flip telephone. The one drawback is that the telephone isn’t out there in North America or Australia.
Most improved Android model: OnePlus
Harish Jonnalagadda: OnePlus had a standout 2024, and the producer did not put a foot flawed within the final 12 months. The OnePlus Open remains to be among the finest foldables round, the OnePlus Pad 2 is a terrific mid-range pill, and the OnePlus 12R is a viable different to the Pixel 8a.
Nevertheless it’s the OnePlus 12 that is significantly notable. Whereas OnePlus rolled out flagships for the higher a part of a decade, its earlier efforts could not fairly measure as much as what Samsung, Xiaomi, Vivo, and Google needed to provide. That modified with the OnePlus 12, with the system delivering a lot better cameras, a brighter AMOLED with eye-friendly tech, and class-leading battery life.
OnePlus managed to deal with a number of of its shortcomings this yr, and the truth that it now has units to tackle the most effective flagships, in addition to mid-range telephones, makes it really deserving of the moniker of essentially the most improved model of 2024.
