Editor's Pick: The best Android phones you can buy right now

There's a lot to love about Android: it's open, it's super customisable, there's much less manufacturer lock-in, and it has a super cute mascot.

But since literally anyone can make an Android smartphone, there's hundreds of devices to choose from. To save you a bit of time, we've picked out our favourite Android-powered devices that you can currently buy.

Or, if you want to jump straight into a price comparison for any of these models, head over to our Mobile Phone Finder tool.

1. Google Pixel 3a

The Google Pixel 3a is a game-changer. It's an affordable smartphone with a top-tier camera and great battery life that genuinely poses the question "why spend more?".

Excellent camera
Incredible value
Solid performance
Great display

No expandable storage
No water-resistance

The Google Pixel 3a gives you flagship grade photography without the price. Retailing for just $649 outright, the Pixel 3a shares its camera with the Pixel 3 - and it's just as good. It excels in lowlight, and is only truly bested by the Huawei P30 Pro. For a phone as cheap as the Pixel 3a, that's insane.

Google hasn't made too compromises in keeping the price down either. Performance is more than fast enough, the battery lasts a full day with a comfortable buffer, the display is just lovely. There's a few nice-to-have features like water-resistance and wireless charging missing in action, but these don't take away from an otherwise excellent, affordable package. The Pixel 3a is the best deal in smartphones right now.

2. Huawei P30 Pro

Huawei's P30 Pro has the best camera on any smartphone you can buy right now. That's really all you need to know.

Best-in-class camera
Top-tier battery
Excellent performance

Expensive
Some software quirks
Prone to scratches and scuffs

If you're okay with spending a little more, and you want the best camera smartphone you can buy right now, the Huawei P30 Pro is it. There might be a few quirks and the display picks up micro-abrasions a little too easily, but the strength of the camera more than makes up for these issues. And the two-day battery life and top-tier performance certainly don't hurt. The P30 Pro is one hell of a device.

Even if the P30 Pro were a trash smartphone - which it absolutely isn't - it would still be worth considering for its camera. It's just that good. It can take crystal clear photos in complete darkness. It can zoom to an absurd level without losing detail. It's incredibly versatile, and unlike anything we've seen on a smartphone before.

3. Samsung Galaxy S10+

The Samsung Galaxy S10+ is an excellent smartphone with a whole host of bleeding edge features.

Feels fantastic to hold and use
Neat new features like in-screen fingerprint reader
Still has a headphone jack
Solid battery life

Bixby isn't great
Camera is good, but not best in class
One of the most expensive phones you can buy

The Galaxy S10+ is one of the slickest smartphones around. It looks fantastic and it feels great too. The edges are smooth and nice to hold, and snappy performance makes Samsung's latest a joy to use.

While it's hard to say the Galaxy S10+ is the very best smartphone around - Huawei has got Samsung beat in terms of both photo quality and battery life - the latest Galaxy is still an excellent device and is sure to keep any Samsung fan happy. And hey, it has a headphone jack!

4. OPPO R17 Pro

Packed full of meaningful features and cool new tech, the OPPO R17 Pro is far more than an iterative upgrade - it's easily one of the most exciting phone you can buy for under $1,000.

Great battery paired with insane charging speed
Excellent camera for a sub-$1,000 phone
Great value

OPPO's take on Android can be hit and miss
No water-resistance
No expandable storage, no headphone jack

OPPO is a smartphone manufacturer specialising in bang-for-buck devices, and has certainly delivered on that promise with its latest. Thanks to a recent price-cut, the R17 Pro is now down to $699, and is more than capable of going toe-to-toe with far pricier devices in most regards.

Camera quality isn't up there with the best of the best, and there are some niggling software issues, but otherwise, the R17 Pro is a solid package. It's the kind of device you buy if you want a premium phone with a bit less of a premium price-tag. And sure, you could opt for a 2017 flagship - Samsung Galaxy S8 - instead, but thanks to all the new tech OPPO has crammed in, the R17 Pro is a far more exciting buy.

5. Motorola Moto G7 Plus

The Moto G7 Plus is an incredibly polished device that doesn't feel too far removed from the far pricier phones it goes up against.

Great value
Excellent display
Snappy performance

Average camera quality
No water-resistance

The Moto G7 Plus is a reliable mid-range phone that's priced perfectly for what it is. The camera won't blow you away, but it's hard to want more for $499. The display is gorgeous, the design screams flagship, the battery will last you the day, and the phone just runs well. Motorola has done it again.

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6. Nokia 6.1

The Nokia 6.1 is a killer affordable smartphone unfettered by bloatware that will stay up to date for years to come

Excellent build quality
Great value
Runs Android One

A little bulky
Camera ranges between "poor" and "rubbish" at night

It might be a year old, but the Nokia 6.1 is still a good buy with solid hardware under the hood. And it's not just specs that impress: the Nokia 6.1 feels like a phone that is worthy of the brand. It feels built to last and delivers on all the fundamentals including performance, screen quality, software, and battery life. Better yet, it retails for just $399, but could set you back even less thanks to regular sales.

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