As astute (and devout) fans of Android phones, we at Phandroid like to keep tabs on the best smartphones that your money can buy, whether you have a meager budget or the means to buy the best of the best. Be sure to explore the best Android smartphones with us!

Best Smartphone Overall: Samsung Galaxy Note 8

The Samsung Galaxy Note 8 is the most complete smartphone ever made. It offers a nice, big, beautiful AMOLED display, a formidable camera system, unique S-Pen features, and sheer, raw power. You will pay a really high price tag for it all, but this is the one phone that may be worth every penny.

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Full List: Best Overall

Best Cheap Smartphone: ZTE Axon 7

For $399, the ZTE Axon 7 is one of the only Daydream VR certified phones on the market., which means it can take advantage of Google’s latest vision for VR. That’s not just marketing speak, either, as Daydream phones have some serious requirements to be called such, the most consistent of which are the inclusion of a Snapdragon 820 chipset, 4GB of RAM, and a 5.5-inch 2560 x 1440 display.

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Full List: Best Cheap

Best Smartphone Under $100: ZTE ZMax Pro

At $99, the ZMax Pro brings an immense amount of value with features like a massive 6-inch Full HD display and even a fingerprint sensor. For horsepower, the phone relies on an octa-core Snapdragon 617 chipset and 2GB of RAM, and a 13MP camera on the rear should do well enough for some casual memory capturing.

Full List: Best Under $100

Best Smartphone Camera: Pixel 2 / Pixel 2 XL

The Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL are the first smartphones to achieve a score of 98 from DxOMark’s mobile testing labs, beating out the likes of the Galaxy S8 and HTC U11. HTC’s camera takes well-balanced photos with a pleasing color balance, great sharpness and detail, and remarkable low-light performance. Add in Google’s AI-infused enhancements and there’s little that can match it.

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Full List: Best Camera

Best Smartphone for Battery Life: ASUS Zenfone 4 Max

The Zenfone 4 Max has one of the biggest batteries available in a smartphone. All that battery makes for a hefty device, but it’s surprisingly thin. Just think of it like a permanent battery case.

Full List: Best Battery Life

Best Smartphone for Kids: Moto G5

The Moto G5 is a great option for kids. The smartphone comes in starting as low as $199, and it has a wide range of features to ensure your child can do whatever you need with it. Specs include a 5-inch 1080p display, a 13-megapixel rear camera and 5-megapixel front camera, and a 3,000mAh battery with Turbo Charging.

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Full List: Best for Kids

Best Durable Smartphone: Samsung Galaxy S8 Active

The Samsung Galaxy S8 Active may not be the most durable phone on this list, but it certainly is the most well-rounded of the lot. This phone’s tough exterior can withstand more than a punch or 2. At the same time, you don’t have to sacrifice powerful specs, a beautiful display, and a great camera.

 

Full List: Best Durable

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