Android Central’s Best Phones of 2024: Cell Phones

This is the first year a company has been able to convince me to switch my primary phone from iPhone to Android. Google’s Pixel 9 Pro is undoubtedly the best Android phone this year. With its seamless Gemini integration, beautiful design, and amazing features, it’s truly the phone that beats them all this year.
We can’t underestimate the OnePlus 12, because not only is it a great phone, but it also helped Android Central determine that OnePlus is indeed the most improved Android brand of the year.
I think what shocks me the most is that there aren’t too many great foldable phones from Google or Samsung, and most of the better foldable phones this year are from brands outside the US, with Honor’s Magic V3 clearly being the best this year Foldable phone. Of course, the phone that continues to impress me is the Razr Plus 2024, this year’s winner for best flip phone.
Here’s what some of my colleagues had to say about the winners. Congratulations!
Best Android phone: Google Pixel 9 Pro
Nick Sutrich: In a sea of phones that feel similar, Google has made a strong effort to create a phone that feels different — even if it looks a little too much like an iPhone for some of us. The Google Pixel 9 Pro is Android Central’s favorite phone of the year for its ability to pack the best features of the Pixel 9 Pro XL into a smaller body, including a killer trio of features that used to be available only on the biggest, most expensive Pixels Rear camera phone.
Not only that, but Google’s ability to make Gemini stand out as the centerpiece of the Pixel experience is something to celebrate. Great new apps like Pixel Screenshots change the game in what Google does best: search, while improving the overall interface and user experience with helpful AI features, making them a favorite among most Android Central staffers.
It might not have the highest score of any premium phone we’ve reviewed this year, but there’s something special about the Pixel 9 Pro that keeps us coming back and wanting more, despite the flaws we’ve discovered.
runner up: one plus 12
Our runner-up is the OnePlus 12. But the OnePlus 12 changed all that, not only did it get people talking about the brand again, it also made them start buying OnePlus phones again.
Everything about this phone exudes OnePlus goodness. From feature-rich software that’s faster and smoother than any other phone, to ultra-fast charging that charges a full charge in minutes, and even one of the most eye-friendly OLED screens in the industry, it’s almost impossible not to fall in love with the OnePlus 12 favorite.
Best value phone: Google Pixel 8a
Harish Jonaragada: It should come as no surprise that the Pixel 8a is the best mid-range phone of 2024. Like it more. While the camera module isn’t the latest, Google excels at taking the best photos and videos; there are other phones that come close to the Pixel 8a, but none of them are consistent.
Google has also made positive progress with OLED panels, which now have a refresh rate of up to 120Hz and are significantly brighter even in strong sunlight. These are all positive improvements, but what really makes the Pixel 8a stand out is the software – it’s the only mid-range phone with a clean interface and a long-term update guarantee. Google promises Android operating system updates for seven years, which will last until 2031, and that won’t happen with any other affordable Android phone.
runner up: OnePlus 12R
In second place is the OnePlus 12R. OnePlus decided to sell the phone globally starting this year, and it turned out to be the right decision; the phone has the best hardware suite in the segment, although I still think the Pixel 8a has the advantage due to its software, But the 12R is much better at gaming, with a bigger battery and unparalleled fast-charging technology.
Best camera phone: Vivo X100 series
Nick Sutrich: Android Central staff voted for the best phone camera of the year, and the results were far apart. The Vivo X100 series won 14 of our 20 votes, which isn’t surprising considering the phone effectively replaces a DSLR-style camera in most situations. Vivo’s software is very user-friendly while providing powerful options for people who need it to do more than they expect from their phone.
My favorite part of the Vivo experience is the phone’s ability to create convincing portrait-style photos at almost any zoom and in any subject. Taking food photos suddenly becomes a magazine-quality experience, with everything from group shots to landscape shots looking stunning, thanks to the phone’s accurate color, crisp detail, and ability to capture motion without the hassle of a smartphone Ambiguous situation.
runner up: Google Pixel 9 Pro
The runner-up finish isn’t surprising, as Google Pixel phones usually win best camera awards any year. There is no doubt that the Google Pixel 9 Pro is the best camera you can buy in the United States. Google’s photo quality is always top-notch, and it’s one of the most reliable camera phones you can use. When you take a photo with a Pixel, there’s almost never a time when you don’t get a good photo.
Google has taken things up a notch this year with amazing new features like “Add Me,” which cleverly uses artificial intelligence to stitch two photos together and help photographers participate in a group photo. Thanks to a great UI design and features that are always fun to use, the Pixel 9 Pro is the camera phone for you if you can’t get the Vivo X100.
Best foldable phone: Honor Magic V3
Andrew Myrick: Well, didn’t you know? Neither Samsung nor Google can claim the “Best Foldable Phone” crown in 2024.
The Magic V3 is powerful in all the right ways, starting with its sleek and lightweight design. As noted in our review, “The Galaxy S24 Ultra is 2 grams heavier than the Magic V3,” which is crazy when you consider that the V3 offers a 6.43-inch cover display and a 7.92-inch interior screen.
Honor has made few sacrifices with the Magic V3, and the biggest issue is “average battery life.” Beyond that we have flagship specs across the board, with the V3 powered by Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. .
runner up: Google Pixel 9 Pro foldable phone
In second place is the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, where Google took a completely unexpected direction. The 9 Pro Fold doesn’t try to perfect the Passport style from the original Pixel Fold, but instead is more in line with the OnePlus Open and the aforementioned Honor Magic V3.
The protective screen of the Pixel 9 Pro Fold is the same size as the Pixel 9, and unfolds to reveal a beautiful 8-inch AMOLED display. It’s powered by Google’s latest Tensor G4, with 16GB of RAM and up to 512GB of storage. Battery life is also excellent, easily lasting more than a day with regular use. We really wish it had the same camera as the Pixel 9 Pro and 9 Pro XL.
Best flip phone: Motorola Razr Plus 2024
Derek Lee: Motorola has seen something of a renaissance in recent years. While Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip range has been largely the same for the past few generations, Motorola launched a revamped Razr in 2023 and gave it a considerable upgrade in 2024.
Technically, the Motorola Razr Plus 2024 isn’t the most powerful flip phone on the market — that distinction comes down to the Galaxy Z Flip 6 and its more powerful chipset — however, Motorola makes up for it in other ways, The overall experience ended up being a phone that I didn’t want to put down since I got it. Each model has a solid hinge on the back, IPX8 water resistance, and vegan leather for a sophisticated design.
I have almost no complaints about the specs, either; the Snapdragon 8S Gen 3 and 12GB of RAM feel fast, the 4,000mAh battery doesn’t make me nervous, and the new 50MP main camera takes photos I can actually use. In addition, the 4-inch overlay screen is very convenient to use and allows access to almost all applications.
runner up: Xiaomi Mix flip cover
While the Razr Plus 2024 was a near-unanimous winner, the runner-up was the Xiaomi Mix Flip, which features a more powerful Snapdragon chipset and an equally large (albeit 0.01-inch larger) screen. As Xiaomi’s first flip phone, the Mix Flip impresses with a stunning design, a set of excellent Leica cameras, and a shockingly large battery for a flip phone. The only problem is that the phone isn’t available in North America or Australia.
Most Improved Android Brand: OnePlus
Harish Jonaragada: OnePlus is on a roll in 2024, and the manufacturer hasn’t made any mistakes over the past 12 months. The OnePlus Open remains one of the best foldable devices, the OnePlus Pad 2 is a great mid-range tablet, and the OnePlus 12R is a viable alternative to the Pixel 8a.
But of particular note is the OnePlus 12. While OnePlus has been launching flagships for the better part of a decade, its early efforts couldn’t quite match what Samsung, Xiaomi, Vivo, and Google had to offer. That changes with the OnePlus 12, which offers a better camera, brighter AMOLED eye protection technology, and class-leading battery life.
OnePlus has managed to address some of its shortcomings this year, and the fact that it now has devices that rival the best flagship phones as well as mid-range phones makes it truly worthy of the title of Most Improved Brand of 2024.