Although iPhones remain incredibly popular today, in terms of choice, Android phones offer a clear advantage that Apple phones simply cannot compete with. While iOS is only available on Apple products, dozens of manufacturers rely on Google’s operating system, including industry powerhouses like Samsung, OnePlus, Motorola, and others.
To identify the right Android handset for them, buyers need to weigh must-have capabilities and features versus design, portability, and target price range. With so many models and manufacturers available today, each with distinct approaches to software and hardware, Android capabilities and price tags can vary widely.
For consumers seeking to make the switch from iPhone to Android, identifying the right device can be challenging. In this article, we provide an overview of four of the most sought-after Android handsets on the market in 2024, outlining their key features.
1. Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
Released in January 2024, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra boasts incredible performance and features, including best-in-class camera technology. Albeit bigger, heavier, and more expensive than other handsets, this model is more than just a smartphone, offering the potential to serve as a drawing tablet, laptop replacement, and entire camera outfit.
The S24 Ultra takes smartphone features to the extreme with a handset that just keeps going, including Galaxy AI integration and impressive language translation capabilities. The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is a top performing phone offering unparalleled performance and battery life, as well as the most versatile camera of any Android. The handset is packed full of features rarely seen in smartphones today, including the Samsung DeX desktop environment. Although some may be put off by the size, the handset weighing in at a hefty half-a-pound, it is impossible to top the S24 Ultra’s colorful, sharp display and bright OLED anti-glare screen.
Performance and battery life are where the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra really excels, providing up to two days of normal use, and excelling in real world gaming benchmark tests. Priced at $1,299, the S24 Ultra is pricey but built to last, featuring a lightweight yet durable titanium frame and incorporating Corning’s new Gorilla Armor.
2. OnePlus 12
Hailed as the best mid-range Android phone to date, for those seeking a flagship phone with big specs, the OnePlus 12 is hard to beat. Incorporating a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip, this handset offers impressive performance as well as ample battery life, thanks to its 5,400 mAh power cell. In addition, the OnePlus 12’s Hasselblad camera technology enables users to capture surprisingly sharp images. Although the phone’s IP65 rating for water and dust resistance fall short when compared with the Samsung Galaxy 24 Ultra, it is the highest seen on any OnePlus handset to date.
One of the most alluring attributes of the OnePlus 12 lies in its affordability. Priced at $800, the handset costs almost $500 less than the Samsung Galaxy 24 Ultra. In addition, OnePlus promises to knock off a further $100 for customers trading in any handset.
3. Nothing Phone 2
Touted as one of the hottest Android manufacturers on the market today, Nothing’s flash transparent design language appeals to retro-tech enthusiasts. The brand is one of just a handful of new entrants in the smartphone arena, joining the fray just as others are pulling out.
The successor to the Nothing Phone 1, the Nothing Phone 2 offers substance as well as sizzle. Powered by an improved Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor offering up to 12 GB of RAM, the Nothing Phone 2 presents a minimalist and digital well-being-focused software experience, running smoothly with respectable battery life.
The Nothing Phone 2’s key selling point is its Glyph Interface, consisting of a series of LED strips on the reverse of the phone that blink in unique patterns depending on incoming notifications and alerts. Levering the transparent back panel, this ingenuitive way encourages users to spend less time staring into their phone screens. With a remarkably reasonable $700 price tag, the Nothing 2 undercuts most other flagship models.
4. Google Pixel 7A
The Google Pixel 7A comes close to being the perfect handset for all. With an appealing design, including a vibrant coral version, the Pixel 7A also incorporates a powerful Tensor G2 processor, enabling it to zip through dozens of apps and run demanding games with ease.
Featuring a 64 megapixel camera, this handset is capable of capturing images that are superior to most other phones in its price bracket, as well as some pricier models. With a 6.1-inch OLED screen, the display is not too large or too small, and is bright enough for use in natural daylight.
With wireless charging and an impressive IP67 water resistance rating, the Google Pixel 7A is very reasonably priced at $500. Nevertheless, the handset does lack a microSD card slot and headphone jack, with less than spectacular battery life, lasting for around a day on a single charge, on average.