Android phones come in all shapes, sizes and price points — it's all a bit daunting. That's why we use and test every Android phone available to pick the absolute best ones available, and give you all the information you need to choose the right one.
In a crowded world with dozens of great Android phone choices, Samsung stands above the rest with the Galaxy S10+. Samsung's latest incorporates all of the features people want, with very few compromises or shortcomings. You get amazing hardware, the best possible display, a fun triple-camera setup and all of the old Samsung standbys like a headphone jack and microSD card slot. It's a truly great phone and it's the best choice for most people.
Our pick
Galaxy S10+
A fantastic phone for anyone's needs.
Samsung has once again topped the competition with the Galaxy S10+. It offers features that anyone can lust after, wrapped up in a beautiful hardware package with the best screen you can get on a smartphone today. The new triple camera is fun and consistent, and battery life is exceptional.
Who should buy this phone
No matter your needs from a smartphone, the Galaxy S10+ is a great starting point — if not the best pick without any other consideration. Think of just about any spec or feature you want from a smartphone, and the Galaxy S10+ will have you covered. And it does so in a complete package of great hardware and a beautiful display.
Think of any spec or feature you want in a smartphone, and the GS10+ has it.
If including all of those features, specs and capabilities in a single device has any downside, it's a lack of cohesiveness. The sheer number of things the Galaxy S10+ has and can do can be overwhelming if you're used to something a bit simpler.
But the software is manageable, it just takes a little more time if you're very particular about how things work. And once you get through all the steps of making the Galaxy S10+ your own, you get a wonderful phone to use every day. You won't find anything that this phone can't do, and it'll do it all day with great battery life.
Is it a good time to buy this phone?
Yes. The Galaxy S10 was released in early March 2019, and will be Samsung's flagship device for many months — at least until the Note 10 appears.
Reasons to buy
- Best-in-class display quality
- Fun triple camera
- Excellent battery life
- Top-end specs
- Headphone jack
- Filled with useful hardware and software features
Reasons not to buy
- Inconsistent fingerprint sensor
- Software requires tweaks and management
- Slower wired charging speed
There are so many great Android phones available, but the Galaxy S10+ stands out
Samsung takes everything that people crave in a high-end smartphone, and packages it all up into a single device: the Galaxy S10+. It matches or beats the competition in hardware, with every little spec and feature you could ask for, and ties it up in beautiful metal and glass with the best screen you'll see all year.
Samsung takes everything that people crave in a smartphone, and packages it all up into a single device
One of the biggest parts of the spec story is the battery, which at 4100mAh can handle even the toughest days without being scared of a midday top-up. In the camera department, Samsung is still a step behind Google in overall photo quality; but the new ultra-wide camera adds a fun option to complement its already solid pair of cameras.
The new in-screen fingerprint sensor is the one downside of this generation. It's a bit slower and less consistent than the Galaxy S9; but don't get scared away, because it's entirely manageable and shouldn't stop you from experiencing the rest of this great phone.
And for anyone who doesn't need such a large screen or battery for their daily use, the smaller Galaxy S10 is identical in every other way; and it's $100 cheaper. Between the two, Samsung has a compelling argument to pick up a majority of sales in this price range.
Alternatives to the Samsung Galaxy S10
The Galaxy S10 is great, but it isn't for everyone. Thankfully, there are plenty more amazing Android phones out there with different features and more affordable prices.
Excellent camera
Google Pixel 3 XL
Clean software straight from Google meets the best cameras available today.
Google creates an unbelievably good software experience for the Pixel 3 XL, and anyone can benefit from it. A simple interface meets thoughtful features and it all comes together wonderfully. The hardware is simple but efficient and solid. And the cameras still lead the industry in overall quality.
If the features and options found on a Samsung phone are overwhelming, you'll feel right at home on a Pixel 3 XL. Google doesn't include the same pile of features or customization options as Samsung, but the result is a software experience anyone can pick up in a couple minutes and enjoy for months.
The specs and hardware features leave a bit to be desired compared to Samsung's latest, with notable shortcomings in screen quality, memory and battery life. But one place Google holds the lead is in camera quality. Even with a single lens, photo quality is so far ahead of the competition it almost isn't fair; and selfies (from two cameras this time) continue to be a Google strength.
Great value
OnePlus 6T
Most of the flagship experience for a fraction of the price.
OnePlus just keeps doing it: a flagship-level phone with amazing hardware, specs and capabilities for hundreds of dollars less. You get a big screen, top-notch internals, excellent battery and actually capable cameras for under $600.
For just $549, you're getting a lot of phone in the OnePlus 6T. Solid hardware and a full spec sheet rival the competition, and the 6.41-inch AMOLED screen is no slouch. The cameras are a step down, but they're consistently above average. And its OxygenOS software is actually capable of challenging Google's in simplicity and speed.
The OnePlus 6T isn't perfect, and has many shortcomings when compared head-to-head with the other phones on this list. But with a price tag that's $3-400 less, it's hard to complain. Given its price, it's shocking how close the OnePlus 6T gets to the competition, and there's a good chance you'll be willing to forego a few nice-to-have extras to save so much money.
Special stylus
Galaxy Note 9
An incredible phone that's even more enticing after price drops.
The Galaxy S10+ is great, but the Note 9 still has its own appeal despite being replaced in many ways. It's arguably identical to the GS10+ in daily experience, and has the benefit of the exclusive S Pen stylus. All while being cheaper.
Even with the Galaxy S10+ on the scene, the Note 9 hasn't been fully replaced. Sure it has a last-generation processor, but other than that it offers effectively the same daily experience as the new phone. You still get great specs, a good camera, an industry-leading display and so much more. And the Note has an S Pen, which remains unmatched in the smartphone world.
Interestingly, the Note 9 can now be had for about $200 less than the Galaxy S10+, even though it has so many parts shared with the newer phone. That makes it an interesting proposition for potential Galaxy buyers on a budget. You'll just be missing out on a few subtle changes, and the ultra-wide-angle rear camera.
Feature-packed
Huawei Mate 20 Pro
Filled with features … unless you're in the U.S.
Huawei aims straight for the highest end of the market with the Mate 20 Pro, going all-out in size, specs and capabilities. This 6.39-inch monster has all of the latest specs, plus a downright massive battery, great triple camera setup and gorgeous color options.
Huawei is doing its best Samsung impression, and in many ways besting it. The Mate 20 Pro is filled with features, specs, a huge battery and one of the best cameras available. But like Samsung's latest phones, it comes with a software experience that's a bit grating, if not entirely frustrating, to people who've spent most of their time with other systems.
But the real issue, as is the case with all modern Huawei phones, is that you can't get the phone in the U.S. unless you make the decision to get a grey-market import. It's a shame, because the Mate 20 Pro is a compelling do-it-all option for people who want to break the mold of just defaulting to the latest Galaxys.
Budget pick
Moto G7
$299 at Motorola $299 at Amazon
Getting all of the basics done in an attractive package for a solid price.
The Moto G7 is the new benchmark for $300 phones. Motorola puts together great build quality, a solid screen and a full spec sheet with clean software and doesn't charge a whole lot for it.
Nobody is going to mistake the Moto G7 for a flagship phone, but at the same time, it gets the basics done while being one-third the price. The Snapdragon 632, 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage will get the job done in terms of performance for some time, and the software is typical great Motorola fare.
The phone has a modern design that won't look out of place in 2019, and the screen is nice and large at 6.2 inches with a respectable 1080p resolution. Battery life will be fine from the 3200mAh capacity, and you get some nice-to-have features like a good 'ol fingerprint sensor and dual cameras for portrait mode.
Bottom line
Most people looking for a great all-around Android phone will be happiest with the Galaxy S10+ or its smaller (and cheaper) companion the Galaxy S10. For a focus on simple software and outright camera performance, the Pixel 3 XL offers a compelling choice as well. And if you want something a little different, the Galaxy Note 9 and Huawei Mate 20 are compelling competitors. For lower budgets, the OnePlus 6T is an amazing choice at just $550, and the Moto G7 gets all of the basics done for just $300.
Credits — The team that worked on this guide
Andrew Martonik is Executive Editor, U.S. at Android Central. He has been a mobile enthusiast since the Windows Mobile days, and covering all things Android-related with a unique perspective at AC since 2012. For suggestions and updates, you can reach him at andrew.martonik@androidcentral.com or on Twitter at @andrewmartonik.
Daniel Bader is Managing Editor of Android Central. As he's writing this, a mountain of old Android phones is about to fall on his head, but his Great Dane will protect him. He drinks way too much coffee and sleeps too little. He wonders if there's a correlation.
Jerry Hildenbrand is a Mobile Nations Senior Editor and works from a Chromebook full time. Currently he is using Google's Pixelbook but is always looking at new products and may have any Chromebook in his hands at any time. You'll find him across the Mobile Nations network and you can hit him up on Twitter if you want to say hey.
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