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For better or worse, today’s smartphones run one of two different operating systems: iOS or Android. If the phone wasn’t made by Apple, it’s probably powered by Android.
According to data from Kantar, Android powered 48.7 percent of Australian smartphones in December 2023. iOS made up 50.3 percent.
Because Android isn’t locked to hardware in the same way as iOS, it means that most phones released today are powered by Android. Manufacturers do have a tendency to add their own artistic style to the user experience.
Of course, the fact that so many different phones from so many different manufacturers all run the same operating system means that it can be quite challenging to find the right device to suit your needs.
In order to help make the decision a little easier, we’ve pulled together this list of the 10 best Android phones available in Australia today.
There’s a more thorough breakdown of how we came up with this list below, but the shortcut version is we did the research through Google, just like you would, in order to identify the phones recommended by multiple experts.
We then filtered out products either unavailable or difficult to purchase in Australia to help make things a bit easier.
Remember that everyone needs different things from a smartphone, so the recommendations here may not be right for you. If not, let us know! We’re always eager to hear about what people look for when buying a new Android phone.
These are the best Android phone models in Australia right now:
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra 256GB Titanium(Black/Grey/Violet/Yellow) (Unlocked) AU Hall of Fame
90% of review sites recommend
Now that it’s been available for a few months, the Galaxy S24 from Samsung is at the top of this list, as expected.
It’s an expensive piece of kit, but it also offers phenomenal performance. It is lightning quick to tackle any task, and the camera is as good as you’ll find in a smartphone today.
Some of the AI features aren’t intuitively accessible, and perhaps aren’t as groundbreaking as the marketing would have you believe. But the good news is that they are optional, though, so it’s not really a negative.
If you’re after one of the most powerful smartphones in the country, then this is where to start.
Google Pixel 8 Pro
90% of review sites recommend
Google’s 2023 flagship is an impressive device, delivering exceptional photo quality thanks to its camera array and intelligent software.
With a design that feels more refined than the Pixel 7 Pro that is comfortable to hold and nice to look at, Google has crafted a fantastic Android phone running the purest form of Android.
Impressively, you now get seven years of platform updates, which is an industry benchmark competitors will need to catch up to.
Recent software updates have also added additional AI-functionality like “circle to search” making this an even more impressive device.
Google Pixel 7a
80% of review sites recommend
While Android is available to multiple phone manufacturers, it’s still driven by Google. That means to get the best performance out of Android, you should consider an Android phone from Google.
The Pixel 7a is Google’s 2023 version of its budget handset lineup, and it delivers on all fronts.
You get the same Tensor 2 processor found in the other Pixel 7 models, , with a 6.1-inch OLED display and a 64MP + 13MP camera array.
It is an exceptionally high-end Android experience on a remarkably affordable device.
Google Pixel 8
Google Pixel 8 5G (Dual Sim, 128GB/8GB, 6.2'') – Obsidian Editor choice
60% of review sites recommend
The recent updates to the Pixel lineup to introduce a bevy of new AI features has helped Google creep into this list with the Pixel 8.
The Pixel 8 offers great camera performance with intelligent software editing powered by AI. The camera isn’t as powerful ast the Pixel 8 Pro, but still offers plenty to like at a more affordable price.
The 6.2in 120Hz OLED screen is wonderful to look at, though for my mind not as impressive as the S24 series.
But the real winner is selling point is seven years of software updates, meaning this is an investment that will see your kids through high school.
Samsung Galaxy S24
Samsung Galaxy S24 AI Smartphone, 8GB RAM 256GB, Onyx Black Editor choice
50% of review sites recommend
While the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is the flagship with all the bells and whistles that sits at the top of this list, the entry-level S24 model is no slouch.
While it uses Samsung’s own Exynos processor rather than the SnapDragon found in the Ultra model, it still performs incredibly responsively and fast.
Plus, it’s smaller design makes it better suited to smaller hand sizes, though it does also mean a smaller battery capacity.
But you still get a great camera array and a brilliant screen, at a fraction of the price. If you are looking for a premium handset without a flagship price, this is a really good option.
Motorola RAZR 40 Ultra
50% of review sites recommend
Samsung spent a few years dominating the foldable smartphone space with its Galaxy Z lineup with little competition. That all changed in 2023, with the arrival of phones like the Motorola RAZR 40 Ultra.
Boasting an incredibly vivid 6.9-inch pOLED screen on the inside, and a 3.6-inch external display as well, the RAZR 40 Ultra builds on a rich history of foldable Motorola phones.
Incredibly slim for a foldable phone, the RAZR 40 Ultra offers intelligent software that takes advantage of both the interior and exterior screens.
The camera array is strong enough you can take some really nice shots with it as well.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5 AI Smartphone, 256GB, Mint Editor choice
40% of review sites recommend
WIth five generations of foldable screen technology under its belt, Samsung has created a flipping awesome device with an iconic design.
There is heaps of processing power inside the Flip 5, and a gorgeous internal folding screen.
But the external display has been hugely upgraded this generation, with widgets that let you control key functions without even having to open the phone.
It will be exciting to see how Samsung develops the widget support in the future, but this is one of the best foldable phones you can get right now.
How we chose the best Android phone
Review sites – including this one – are subjective by nature. Everybody has a different opinion of what is best.
So to try and counter the fact that every best guide on the internet has a different opinion of what is best, we approached our list by combining the results of some of the top sites recommending Android phones on the market today.
To determine this list, we followed the same journey most consumers would follow: we went to Google.
We searched for “Best Android phone” and identified 10 of the top results. It’s important to note that Google results can change often. The full list of sites we referenced is outlined below:
- Wired
- Tom’s Guide
- CNet
- PCMag
- Android Central
- NY Times
- Tech Advisor
- TechRadar
- Android Authority
- ZDNet
We listed out all of the Android phones listed on each site, tidying up any slight differences in spelling for consistency.
We calculated how often each product was mentioned across those 10 guides. The more frequently a product is mentioned, the more agreement there is between experts reviewing these products.
We set a minimum of four mentions across all 10 guides to be eligible for inclusion here. This means that each product is recommended by at least 40% of the sites surveyed.
Before we created this page we took some time to remove products that are either unavailable, or difficult to find in Australia.
We also leveraged our own experience with products to ensure that we wouldn’t be recommending any product that doesn’t deliver.
What to look for when choosing the best Android phone
Whether you’re after one of the models listed above or something completely different, the decision factors you need to consider when buying an Android phone is the same.
Design
Your smartphone is going to be the centre of your life. So it’s important to choose a smartphone that matches your personality.
While design is completely subjective, it’s also super important when choosing the right Android phone for you. For example: you love the colour pink, and want your phone to be pink. But the best phone on the planet doesn’t come in pink. Buying that phone probably won’t make you happy.
It’s important to note that design isn’t just about colours either. It’s also about comfort. So if you have small hands, an extremely large device is going to be hard to use, and you should consider a device that is comfortable to hold.
Camera requirements
The best camera is the one you have with you. You will almost always have your smartphone with you, so having a good camera onboard is essential.
Fortunately, today’s smartphones almost all have really solid cameras, so the baseline is consistently good. For those who want more from their smartphone photography, you can now find models with multiple lenses for zoom or macro photography. You can also find models designed to offer superior low-light shots.
Consider the types of photos and video you will be taking when choosing your smartphone.
Battery life
Despite the rapid development of processing and camera technology in smartphones, battery tech hasn’t moved at the same pace.
For the vast majority of devices, you will typically get 1-2 days worth of use before the battery runs out.
Understanding the capacity of the battery can offer some relief here. A 4000mAh battery is more likely to last longer than a 2800mAh battery. Remember, factors like screen size and the efficiency of the processor could impact that result.
Instead, you may want to consider devices with effective low-power modes. This switches off a bunch of features when the battery starts to run low.
Additionally, devices with fast charging can be plugged in for just a few minutes to recover a decent amount of battery power.
Display
This directly connects to the design of the phone, but it’s worth considering the quality of the display itself, as well as the size.
Size is important because it will impact the comfort of the phone.
But also look at things like the resolution of the screen and its refresh rate. Resolution refers to the number of pixels that make up the screen.
The more pixels there are, the clearer the picture will be in most cases. Refresh rate could be important if you plan on using the handset to play games or stream sports. Typically a higher refresh rate the better the phone will be at displaying fast moving objects.
Performance
Arguably one of the biggest differences between Android phones are the processors. The chips that power the device can vary dramatically in performance and how quickly they complete tasks.
If your phone is mostly for browsing Facebook or sending text messages, then you probably won’t need a powerful processor. If you want to edit photos or play high-quality video games, you are going to need a powerful processor.
Benchmark scores are an easy way to understand how good a processor is at doing its job. It’s not foolproof though. Plenty of manufacturers have cheated to make their benchmark scores look better than they really are. However, it is still something to consider when choosing an Android phone.
Price
As with anything, price is a key component. The best Android phones can be extremely expensive, which means that they may not suit everyone’s budget.
Because smartphones are updated frequently, it’s fairly easy to get a great bargain. Select an older model or a mid-range. These phones deliver really solid performance, but without the premium price tag of newer flagship phones.
FAQ
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Best Android phone update history
- 6 December 2022 – First Published
- 10 January 2023 – Updated the number of recommendations for products.
- 6 February 2023 – Updated the number of recommendations for products. Removed the Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus. Added a comparison table.
- 4 March 2023 – Updated the number of recommendations for products. Removed the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra. Added the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra and the OnePlus 11.
- 5 April 2023 – Updated the number of recommendations for products. Removed the Samsung Galaxy S22.
- 1 May 2023 – Updated the number of recommendations for products.
- 2 June 2023 – Updated the number of recommendations. Removed the Google Pixel 6a. Added the Google Pixel 7a.
- 3 July 2023 – Updated the number of recommendations for products.
- 2 August 2023 – Updated the number of recommendations for products. Lowered the minimum to four. Added the Motorola RAZR 40 Ultra, Samsung Galaxy S23 and Galaxy S23 Plus.
- 11 September 2023 – Updated the number of recommendations for products. Added Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5. Removed Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4.
- 4 October 2023 – Updated the number of recommendations for products.
- 6 November 2023 – Updated the number of recommendations for products. Added Google Pixel 8 Pro. Removed Google Pixel 7 Pro and Google Pixel 7.
- 8 December 2023 – Updated the number of recommendations for products.
- 8 January 2024 – Updated the number of recommendations for products.
- 5 February 2024 – Updated the number of recommendations for products.
- 8 March 2024 – Updated the number of recommendations for products. Removed the Samsung Galaxy S23, OnePlus 11, Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5, Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Samsung Galaxy A54 5G. Added Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra and Google Pixel 8.
- 8 April 2024 – Updated the number of recommendations for products. Added Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5, and Samsung Galaxy S24. Removed the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra.
