Best Android phone 2019: Which is the top Android phone to buy today?
The world of Android phones is very different to the world of Apple phones. Apple aims to give you the same experience across its devices whereas Android embraces variety, with phones from different manufacturers having a very different personality - and different features.
That means personal brand preference plays a big part, aside from the core Android experience. Pricing is hugely competitive, presenting you with a lot of choices.
Here's our run down of the very best Android phones you can buy and the reasons why they deserve your attention.
Huawei P30 Pro
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It's with some caution that we recommend the Huawei P30 Pro. Undoubtedly, Huawei has produced a stellar smartphone. It has huge power, amazing battery life and even compared to newer launches, a camera system that's class leading.
But there's no avoiding the fact that Huawei still faces some uncertainty. While the P30 Pro is scheduled to update to Android 10, there is a doubt of what might happen in the future. At the moment the message is that it's business as usual, but consider yourself warned.
Samsung Galaxy S10+
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The Samsung Galaxy S series has long been the flagship series to beat in the Android world. And with Samsung still commanding a sizeable chunk of the market, it's one that's easier to recommend buying in 2019.
With the big-name comes a big experience. The awesome display on the front dominates the available space, with the hole-punch cameras being only a minor distraction from an otherwise glorious display.
Inside, you get all the power you could wish for, and performance to match. It's fast, fluid, goes all day and has one of the most versatile cameras available on any smartphone, although it's not quite as adept as the Huawei P30 Pro.
Xiaomi Mi 9T Pro
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When it comes to Android phones offering good value for money, Xiaomi is the rising star. The Mi 9 was a cracking phone, but the Mi 9T Pro - despite the confusing name - move things on further, as well as being cheaper.
If money is tight then it's impossible to ignore, giving you flagship power, decent battery and cameras that stand up against rivals. The display is great and there's no real indication that this is a cheaper handset. The MIUI software isn't the best, however.
OnePlus 7T
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OnePlus launched into a new segment in 2019 with the new Pro devices. But then it updated it's "normal" phone in the OnePlus 7T and ended up with a cracker. Tweaking the display for 90Hz, adding to the cameras on the rear and equipping this phone with a Snapdragon 855+, it has plenty of appeal.
It's a lighter take on Android, with fans saying that OnePlus is better at presenting Android than Google is on its own phones. Certainly there's no shortage of optimisation and speed.
Google Pixel 3a
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It might be sporting a mid-range processor under the hood, but being able to get an almost full Pixel experience at a fraction of the cost of the full Pixel 3 is fantastic. This phone is all about lowering the price barrier, enabling you to get to that camera without needing hefty wad of cash.
It runs the same clean, enhanced version of Android as the Pixel 3 family, and there's some AI smarts being used to ensure that the software and animations all runs as smoothly as you'd expect from a more powerful phone.
OnePlus 7 Pro
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In previous years, OnePlus phones had been renowned for offering a powerful, fast, premium experience with a cost that was a fraction of that demanded by the big names on the market. There was always a sense that a little bit was being held back though. With the 7 Pro, that's no longer the case.
This is a proper, ultra-premium flagship phone, with a price which - while still cheaper than the big names - is much higher than anything OnePlus has charged before. With that said, it's got one of the best displays we've ever seen on a phone, a fun, versatile triple camera system on the back and a version of Android that's lightweight and very customisable. It's a bit big, and a bit heavy, but if you're happy to live with that, you'll get a stunning phone. There's even 5G for those who want it.
Samsung Galaxy S10e
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Samsung's smaller Galaxy handset has a lot to offer if you don't want a huge phone in your pocket, and if you don't want a huge hole in your wallet. It offers very much the same hardware experience as the larger S10 and S10+, but loses one of the cameras on the rear, so unlike the bigger phone, you don't have optical zoom.
What you do have is Samsung's great software experience, loaded with connectivity and clever features, making for a compelling experience. What's more, it's almost approaching OnePlus and Xiaomi levels of value for money, and with a big name like Samsung, that's worth something.
In short, if you want a small but powerful device, built by one of the most reliable brands on the market, the S10e is your phone.
Oppo Reno 10x Zoom
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Oppo has adjusted quickly to the western market. With its big European launch last year, it's quickly adapted its software to more closely match what we prefer from an Android phone, and now, its ColorOS user interface is much better than the mess it used to be.
The 10x Zoom has an awesome triple camera system, which includes that crazy 10x lossless zoom offered by the horizontal periscope-like camera. It also has a big, flat edge-to-edge screen that looks great, as well as an interesting pop-up camera design.
It might not have quite refined all the gremlins in the software, but on the whole, the Reno 10x Zoom is the best phone Oppo has ever made. We just wish it had the super-awesome Super VOOC flash charging to really turbo-charge things. The Oppo Reno 5G expands this handset with next-gen connectivity.
Moto G7 Power
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The Moto G7 Power might not be the flashiest, all-singing all-dancing phone on the list, but for the money, it shows that the Moto G brand is still the king of budget smartphones.
It sits right in budget phone territory, has a big screen, expandable storage, clean software and enough power to make it useable on the daily. It's got a slightly weak camera, but the battery life is phenomenal for a smartphone.
Samsung Galaxy Note 10+
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The Galaxy Note has always been about one thing: the S Pen. While that S Pen gets a couple of upgrades, the real update to the Note 10 family is the creation of two sizes. That moves it even closer to the Galaxy S in terms of positioning - and unlike some previous years, there's no real sense of innovation in the functions of the Note 10+.
Yes, it's capable in every sense, it's a wonderful phone with lots of power, a great display and that S Pen, but it's little different to Samsung's older Galaxy S10+. There is a 5G version, however.
Motorola Moto G7 Plus
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When it comes to budget, the Moto G has always been in the mix. The Moto G7 Plus gives you great design, a good display, cunning camera and a nice clean software build and all at a price that leaves others standing.
Yes, you don't get the most power and it can't compete in many performance areas with the flagship Android devices, but it's a good, solid workhorse.
Google Pixel 3 XL
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The Google Pixel 3 XL is pure Android 10, as Google wants you to experience it. This is the best single-len camera phone on the market, able to do things with its lens that others struggle to do with three - while also offering excellent low light performance.
It's not the smoothest runner though. The phone has been plagued by software bugs, the notch design isn't as efficient as others and this phone is expensive - especially given the battery life which doesn't match many others on this list. Sadly, much of what is offers is also in the Pixel 3a, making this bigger phone a harder sell.
Sony Xperia XZ3
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Sony Mobile finds form with the Xperia XZ3, throwing off the shackles of its older design to present something that's a lot more appealing. There's great use a space, a fantastic display and a good camera experience.
There is some software tweaking going on from Sony, but running the latest version of Android, there isn't a lot to complain about. Sony's struggle is that it ends up costing a little more than some of its rivals like OnePlus. Still, if you want something that will tie-in with your PlayStation 4, the Xperia has the ecosystem advantage.
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