Best Android phone 2019
There's a lot of choice when it comes to Android phones so we've reviewed and ranked the best 10 you can buy right now
There are new phones arriving all the time, especially when it comes to the world of Android phones. Apple's iPhone might be popular but handsets running Google's mobile OS provide you with a wealth of choice.
Here at Tech Advisor we independently test each phone thoroughly so we can bring you the very best ones you can buy at any given moment. Here we rank the top 10 but keep checking as new ones will be added regularly.
In 2018 we had some cracking Android phones such as the Samsung Galaxy S9, OnePlus 6T, Pixel 3 and Huawei P20 Pro. In 2019 some of those phones have been one-upped by handsets like the Galaxy S10, Xiaomi Mi 9 and Huawei P30 Pro.
Should I buy an Android phone now or wait for Black Friday?
Black Friday is one of the biggest sales events of the year, and in 2019 takes place on 29 November. We're already seeing some great consumer tech deals and expect them to continue right into January, with Black Friday deals followed by Cyber Monday deals, Christmas deals, Boxing day deals and then we've got the January sales.
That's both good and bad, of course, because how do you know that a product won't drop in price the very next week? The truth is you can never be entirely sure, but we're now close enough to the main event that many retailers have already begun their Black Friday sales. Of the big UK retailers, Currys has started its Why Wait? sale, guaranteeing that products won't drop any further in price for Black Friday, while Amazon has a range of Black Friday Countdown deals, with its main event starting on 22 November.
They aren't the only ones, and we've been busy hunting down the best phone deals so that you don't have to. While prices may go down further for Black Friday, some discounts will also end sooner, so unless you're sure that a product will be discounted it's always best to take a deal at face value: if you think the product is worth that amount of money, go for it. Sometimes it doesn't pay to hold out for something that will never happen.
Below we've provided some buying advice on what to look for in an Android phone: even if the products we round up here are not discounted, you may find similar products at much lower prices - and if our #2 or #3 ranked product is discounted, that be enough for you to consider it over the #1 phone.
Your buying guide for the best Android phones in 2019
You might still be considering an iPhone, but it's worth checkout out the amazing selection of Android phone before you make a final decision. While you only get to choose from a handful of Apple handsets, there's something for everyone when it comes to Android.
The top Android phones are made by the likes of Huawei, Google, OnePlus, Xiaomi and Samsung.
They come in all shapes, sizes, colours and each has selling points – whether it's a sleek waterproof design, a massive display or no less than three cameras. Sometimes, you might get all of this in one phone.
Since you're often paying in excess of £600 for these phones, you can expect to get tip top build quality and the latest hardware and software features. Differences between devices can be minimal so a lot will likely come down to personal preference.
If these are too expensive, then we also have dedicated charts for mid-range phones and budget phones. So you'll find something no matter how much you have to spend.
We've done our best to rank the phones in order taking into account build, value, performance and features. However, make sure you get the phone that's right for your needs – it might not simply be the phone in the top spot.
Note that where phones are very similar – like the S10 and S10 Plus – we've picked the one we think is better to appear in the chart. This is so the ten phones are nicely varied, providing a wider choice, but the version not chosen is still a valid choice.
Clicking through to our in-depth reviews will help where we have detailed benchmarks, test photography and more.
So here they are, the best Android phones you can buy right now. There are so many great choices, that all of these have scored nine out of 10 in our rating system.
Best Android phones 2019
The prices listed below for each product in this feature are updated automatically, and include the latest early Black Friday deals and sales.
1. OnePlus 7T
- Rating:
- Reviewed on: 17 October 2019
- RRP: TBC
The OnePlus 7T is a phenomenal smartphone that offers quite the upgrade over the standard OnePlus 7, featuring a large 6.55in AMOLED display with speedy 90Hz refresh rate, an upgraded triple-camera setup on the rear consisting of a wide, ultra-wide and telephoto lens and rapid 30W charging that boosts your phone by just under 50 percent in 20 minutes.
The design is eye-catching without being too in-your-face, thanks mainly to the frosted glass finish, and the lightweight form factor makes it feel great in the hand. Admittedly it’s not perfect, with a slightly buggy Super Stabilised video mode and a 60fps cap on games despite the 90Hz refresh rate, but there’s still a lot to be excited about with the OnePlus 7T.
2. Xiaomi Mi 9
- Rating:
- Reviewed on: 15 July 2019
- RRP: Price TBC
Devilishly fast, insanely beautiful and offering the best value for money you'll find in any smartphone, anywhere. Mi 9 is a cracking deal at £499, and well worth the upgrade from even Mi 8.
New is an in-display fingerprint sensor as standard, Qualcomm's latest Snapdragon 855 processor, 20W wireless charging, a larger screen and a triple-lens camera that includes a massive 48Mp lens.
A Tech Advisor award winner at MWC 2019, Mi 9 is one of the best phones in the world, yet it comes at a mid-range price. It is also one of the top-rated camera phones.
It's available direct from Xiaomi at £499, or on contract from Vodafone. If you're happy to ship from China, GearBest offers an incredible deal at £300.07, and at this price no other phone comes even remotely close.
3. Asus ZenFone 6
- Rating:
- Reviewed on: 22 May 2019
- RRP: TBC
Rather than following the trend of notches and hole-punch camera cutouts, the ZenFone 6 offers an innovative Flip Camera system that provides a high-end shooting experience on the rear and front, without compromising on screen real estate.
Images captured are detailed and vibrant, and the ability to record at 4K@60fps with EIS is a nice touch, too. It's a versatile bit of kit, and more than a gimmick.
Beyond the camera setup, the ZenFone 6 is a stunning bit of kit; it boasts a curved rear that fits nicely into the palm of your hand, a glossy design and most importantly, a 6.4in full-screen display free of bezels and notches.
And with a 5,000mAh battery that comfortably provides all-day usage, there’s not much to complain about - especially at such a cheap price point.
4. Google Pixel 3
- Rating:
- Reviewed on: 24 October 2019
- RRP: From $499
The Pixel 3 has great performance, the best camera on a smartphone and a premium design.
Google has paid special attention to the display, which is much better than the previous two generations of Pixels (though doesn't feature the 90Hz refresh rate of the Pixel 4), and Android software is best with this hardware. The all-glass back allows for wireless charging, and Google bundles USB-C headphones in the box.
The Pixel 3 XL is exactly the same experience save for the larger notched display and larger battery.
The Pixel 4 is now here, but thanks to a price drop, the Pixel 3 still makes an excellent case for itself if the new telephoto camera, upgraded internals and new gesture controls of its successor don't appeal - especially since the more recent phone disappoints in battery life.
5. Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus
- Rating:
- Reviewed on: 4 March 2019
- RRP: From $999
The Galaxy S10 Plus is the best Galaxy phone ever with outstanding cameras, build, display and performance. The Exynos version is let down by its merely acceptable battery life.
It's also very expensive from £899 / $999 and then some, but it's a wonderful experience with OneUI's thoughtful additions, slick day to day use and more features than you can throw a stick at.
If you want to spend £100 / $100 less there's the regular Galaxy S10 which has most of the same features including the triple rear cameras and outstanding screen. You could even go for the S10e, but it's a different phone with a smaller screen, less battery and fewer cameras.
6. Oppo Reno 10x Zoom
- Rating:
- Reviewed on: 24 October 2019
- RRP: To be confirmed
The Reno 10x Zoom feels a lot like the OnePlus 7 Pro, but trades that phone's phenomenal screen for a better camera instead - a trade-off that's likely to make sense for a lot of people. It's got top specs, decent battery, and a slick design - as long as you don't mind the shark fin.
Getting a Snapdragon 855 and a full-screen, notchless display for £699 is a good deal no matter which way you look at it, but the real sell is the triple camera array. With a 48Mp main lens and a 5x optical zoom that can simulate 10x thanks to software tricks, this is one of the few cameras on the market that can rival the Huawei P30 Pro.
The few downsides are that the AMOLED panel is only 1080p, the speakers are a bit wimpy, and ColorOS still feels like a bit of a work in progress - but for most people these will hardly matter at all.
- Rating:
- Reviewed on: 20 May 2019
- RRP: £899 (128GB), £1099 (512GB)
Taking lots of cues from the Mate 20 Pro, and improving the cameras and fingerprint scanner, the P30 Pro is Huawei's best phone yet. The design is out the top drawer, the display is outstanding and the cameras are truly some of the best ever seen on a phone.
It costs more than ever, but if you want the best cameras around, this is the phone to buy.
If you want to spend less (and get a little less), there's the Huawei P30 instead.
Do note that the P30 was announced before Huawei was put on the US trade blocklist and Google announced its decision to pull support, and therefore will continue to have full access to Google apps, services and security updates.