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.
2019 brought along some amazing handsets like the Galaxy S10, Xiaomi Mi 9 and Huawei P30 Pro. 2020 is shaping up to be a corker too (at least where phone releases are concerned), with offerings like the OnePlus 8, Galaxy S20 Series and even newcomers like the Realme X50 Pro.
Here at Tech Advisor we independently test each phone thoroughly so we can bring you the very best options you can buy at any given moment. Here we rank the top ten, but keep checking as new ones will be added regularly.
1. OnePlus 8 Pro
- $899 (8GB/128GB) | $999 (12GB/256GB)
The OnePlus 8 Pro is arguably the company's first full flagship, finally incorporating long-requested features like wireless charging and an IP68 waterproof rating to make it a genuine contender with Samsung's finest.
Understandably the price has gone up accordingly, but at £799/$899 for the base model - no slouch at 8GB RAM and 128GB storage - it still represents serious value by flagship standards, meaning you will save at least some money by opting for OnePlus over most other manufacturers. You can save even more with the £599/$699 OnePlus 8, though you'll have to give up a few features and downgrade the display and cameras.
The 8 Pro camera is OnePlus' best yet, and while it still lags behind rivals slightly in some software the hardware is among the best around, which has helped to close the gap considerably. Throw in 5G, a great design, and the best Android skin around and the OnePlus 8 Pro is easy to recommend to anyone who can afford it.
Read our full OnePlus 8 Pro review
2. Samsung Galaxy S20
- $999
The Galaxy S20 is the best phone in Samsung’s S20 series, and simply the best phone the company makes right now. It’s compact, powerful, and packs a versatile camera system that may not match the top-tier S20 Ultra on zoom or detail, but it meets - and sometimes beats - it across the rest of the board, which means it's more than a match for just about any other phone out there too.
The wider 5G ecosystem isn’t quite there yet, but will be within the lifetime of this phone, making it almost worth the upgrade. And while battery life remains a slight concern, that’s really the only major fault here. The Android ecosystem offers more for less elsewhere, but usually without Samsung’s level of prestige or polish, and in this case we think that’s worth paying for.
Read our full Samsung Galaxy S20 review
3. Oppo Find X2 Pro
- £1,099 (about $1,350)
The Oppo Find X2 Pro is a phenomenal phone by any measure. The 6.7in, 10-bit, 120Hz, QHD+ panel is the best display in any phone right now, and Oppo backs it up with the fastest wired charging around at 65W, and a top-tier camera that boasts two 48Mp lenses and up to 10x hybrid zoom.
You’ll have to live without wireless charging, and the choice between bland grey ceramic or garish orange vegan leather finishes might leave some struggling to find a design that suits their style.
For pure performance though, the Find X2 Pro can’t be beat right now, with all of the above plus a Snapdragon 865 5G, 512GB storage, and 12GB RAM - you just have to be willing to pay the price, as at £1,099 it doesn't come cheap.
Read our full Oppo Find X2 Pro review
4. Realme X50 Pro
- N/A
Realme's first 5G flagship (and second-ever flagship phone) is an impressively affordable device that doesn't skimp on high-end specs and features.
The Realme X50 Pro forgoes aspects like IP water resistance and a thin body, but in return sports the latest and greatest Snapdragon 865 chipset, 5G, up to 12GB of RAM, fast UFS 3.0 storage and insane 65W 'SuperDart' fast charging, which delivers 60% charge in just 15 minutes and a full charge in only 35.
Best of all, with an initial starting price of £569, the X50 Pro costs nearly half that of most top-tier Android flagships on the market in 2020.
Read our full Realme X50 Pro review
5. Google Pixel 4a
- $349
If you're in the US and looking for a great mid-range Android phone then you should pre-order the Pixel 4a today. It really is a knockout handset from Google with so much on offer for an incredibly affordable price.
Things are a little more complicated in the UK where it doesn't arrive until October. There's also the issue of much tougher competition from rivals with things like 5G support and higher refresh rate displays if those are important features.
Otherwise, it's a charming phone with a rare compact design, smooth performance, excellent cameras and easy-to-use software with at least three years of updates. If you can't wait, the Pixel 3a is still available for £329.
Read our full Google Pixel 4a review
6. Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra
- From $1299.99
A true powerhouse - the Note 20 Ultra doesn't take any prisoners, with its flagship performance, greatly-improved camera (compared to the Galaxy S20 Ultra), new low-latency S Pen experience and the sheer number of features it offers.
Samsung's One UI 2.5 user experience is jam-packed with functionality without feeling overwhelming. You have control over pretty much every aspect of the phone and it's designed to help you get things done.
The pairing of S Pen and the new Samsung Notes experience is a particular highlight, as is the tighter Microsoft integration. There's also the matter of DeX which is now fully-wireless with compatible displays.
Read our full Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra review.
7. Samsung Galaxy Z Flip
- $1,380
The Galaxy Z Flip isn’t a perfect phone. It’s expensive, there are only two main camera lenses, and the fingerprint sensor sucks.
Price aside, these are minor quibbles however, and even while this may not be the best phone we’ve used this year, it’s one of our favourites. With the Z Flip Samsung has nailed the compact foldable form factor, and by comparison every other 2020 flagship feels ungainly and oversized.
This phone looks great, offers solid performance and flagship features, and is just plain cool. Most people probably shouldn’t spend this much on a phone, but if you can afford to then nothing else right now can match the Z Flip.
Read our full Samsung Galaxy Z Flip review
8. Nubia Red Magic 5G
- $579 (8GB+128GB) | $649 (12GB+256GB)
The Red Magic 5G is undeniably one of the best gaming phones on the market. Its 144Hz display and stereo speakers are among the best in their class, while the camera enjoys a notable upgrade over the Red Magic 3S.
The phone is targeted squarely at mobile gamers and as such, some aspects are less well suited to mainstream users. These include its imposing industrial design and some unimpressive software tweaks - the frustrating in-display fingerprint scanner chief among them.
All things considered, however, the Red Magic 5G offers everything budding gamers are looking for, not to mention 5G speeds, at a price that means it's hard to resist.
Read our full Nubia Red Magic 5G review
9. Motorola Edge
- £549.99 (around $675)
Though it looks the same as the flagship Edge Plus, the Motorola Edge is a more budget-friendly offering. It features the same 6.7in OLED Endless Edge display as the Plus model, giving the phone a high-end look, although the palm rejection tech isn't the best we've seen.
That's backed up by a large 4500mAh battery that has the potential to comfortably last up to two days on a single charge.
There's a downgrade in terms of performance, sporting a Snapdragon 765 where most rivals feature the flagship 865, and the trio of rear cameras do a decent job, but it's not what we'd class as industry-leading. It might not be perfect, but it's still a stunningly good looking, wallet-friendly 5G smartphone.
Read our full Motorola Edge review
10. Samsung Galaxy Note 10+
- From $1,099
444
It's pretty clear the Galaxy Note 10+ is the phone that will satisfy fans of the series, by offering all the things that Note users love.
A big screen, a gorgeous design, and almost all the high-end specs you can throw at a phone. We particularly love the display and new cameras which just about distract from the missing headphone jack.
It is expensive though, so unless you really will make use of the real estate and S Pen, an S10 model might be a better choice - or even the smaller Note 10.
Read our full Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ review
Your buying guide for the best Android phones in 2020
You might still be considering an iPhone, but it's worth checking out this 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 Samsung, Oppo and Google.
They come in all shapes, sizes, colours and each has selling points – whether it's a sleek waterproof design, a massive display or no fewer than three cameras. Sometimes, you might get all of this in one phone.
Since you're often paying in excess of £700 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 S20 and S20 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 still may be a valid option.
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