Best Android Phones of 2018

Andrew Martonik

7 Feb 2018

• Best overall
• Best with huge screen
• Best mainstream alternative
• Best for battery life
• Best for features

Note: We're just a few weeks away from the Galaxy S9 and S9+ being announced, which will certainly have an effect on this list. But until they're available, here are the best Android phones you can buy today.

Best overall: Google Pixel 2

See at Verizon
Google's new Pixel 2 gives you sleek and solid hardware, all of the requisite specs inside and runs simple and intuitive software at a breakneck pace. The hardware surely isn't flashy, but it's beautiful and efficient — and it's now IP67 water-resistant like we expect.
The software features and Google's apps aren't numerous, but they're delightfully useful without being bothersome. And with three years of guaranteed updates, you don't have to worry about the future.
The Pixel 2 has once again set the standard for Android cameras as well, with Google's "HDR+" processing buoyed by new camera hardware and even better processing. Photos are accurate with just a little extra punch of color, and can manage tough scenes with little issue. And with Android 8.1, the Pixel Visual Core chipset enables dramatically better photos in third-party apps.
Bottom line: The best Android experience comes straight from Google with the Pixel 2. Great hardware and amazing software support an amazing camera that's only getting better.
One more thing: Though Verizon will tout the Pixel 2 is "exclusive" to the carrier, know that you can buy the phone unlocked from a variety of sources and use it on your carrier of choice.

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Why the Google Pixel 2 is the best

If you want the best possible Android experience, you go straight to the source: Google. The company has gotten serious about user experience and interface design, and it really shows with Android 8.1 Oreo on the Pixel 2. Everything is blazing fast, smooth, consistent and intuitive throughout the interface. It's a core competency that separates the Pixel 2 from the competition, and it's something that any smartphone user can appreciate.

Google has gotten really good at user experience and interface design.

And it's not just software customization that makes it happen — Google has included a Snapdragon 835, 4GB of RAM and 64GB (optionally, 128GB) of storage to make sure your phone has plenty of room to run. A 2700mAh battery seems small (well, normally, it is), but it manages to get you a full day of use without