It’s a funny thing, this idea of calling something the best. After all, everyone wants to think that their favorite of anything is the best — the best album, book, or cup of coffee — but that can’t always be true. And, when you apply the idea of being the best to a category as wide open as Android phones, which can come in different shapes, sizes, and prices, the task becomes even greater.
However, I think I have a pretty good idea of what makes an Android phone great. I test and review dozens of them every year, and I’ve spent time with just about every phone you can get your hands on in the US (and even some that you can only buy elsewhere). And, across my many Android-fueled adventures, I’ve learned to pick the qualities that make a phone worth buying. So, with that in mind, here’s what I think are the best Android phones you can buy in 2025.
Google Pixel 9 Pro XL: The best Android phone overall Google Pixel 9 Pro XL The best specs in the Pixel 9 series • Gorgeous display • Seven years of software updates MSRP: $1,099.00 Pure XL-ence. Google reserves its best hardware for the largest device in the line. The Google Pixel 9 Pro XL offers a 6.8-inch display, the biggest battery we've ever seen in a Pixel phone, and 37W wired charging. Otherwise, the Pixel 9 Pro and the Pixel 9 Pro XL share almost all other hardware and software features, giving users the option between display sizes with top hardware. See price at AmazonSee price at Google StoreSee price at Best Buy Positives Excellent build quality, refined design
Excellent build quality, refined design Stunning display
Stunning display Extensive update policy
Extensive update policy Sharp, powerful cameras
Sharp, powerful cameras Improved wired charging
Improved wired charging Clever Gemini features Cons Tensor still runs warm
Tensor still runs warm Confusing charging situation
Confusing charging situation Only 128GB base storage I remember when Google’s Pixel phones felt like niche picks for the most dedicated Android fans. They paired clean, simple software with brilliant cameras and added a dash of fun Google design to the mix, and I always felt clever spotting one out in the wild. These days, the Pixel 9 Pro XL hangs its hat on many of the same features as its predecessors, but it’s no longer a pick for those in the know — it’s just the best Android phone that money can buy. I’ve spent perhaps more time with the Pixel 9 Pro XL (and its smaller Pixel 9 Pro sibling) than anyone else at Android Authority, and it continues to find new ways to impress. Its updated design with smooth, shiny side rails and a camera bar that’s become more of an island feels a little bit Apple-inspired, but in a way that makes me think the student has become the master. Granted, I’ve always been a fan of Google’s camera bar design, but it now feels polished and premium in a way that can stand with any other phone on the market. And, since we’re already on the topic of the camera bar, let’s dig into Google’s impressive hardware a little further. The Pixel 9 Pro XL packs a 50MP primary sensor that’s simply excellent, capturing plenty of detail and processing images with a very natural color profile thanks to the Tensor G4 chipset. Google’s ultrawide and 5x optical telephoto sensor help to round out the setup with up to 30x zoom, while tricks like a revamped panorama mode and Add Me helped to earn the phone the title of best Android camera phone, too. With an updated design, improved Tensor G4 chipset, and tons of AI features, the Pixel 9 Pro XL is Google's most complete phone to date. Updates under the hood have helped to keep Google’s top-end flagship at the front of my mind since it launched last fall. Its 16GB of RAM (with 4GB reserved for Gemini) and up to 1TB of storage space feel like clever future-proofing methods that will keep the Pixel 9 Pro XL near the top of the list as Google rolls out new AI-powered features like updates to the Pixel Studio, better support for Pixel Screenshots, and new capabilities for Gemini Live over the course of seven years of updates. Even the Pixel 9 Pro XL’s battery and charging setup have taken a step forward, thanks in no small part to the combination of the more efficient Tensor G4 chipset and upgraded 37W wired speeds. I don’t even mind that I needed to pick up Google’s new USB-C Pixel charger, as I’m still achieving close to two days of battery life between charges. And, with a starting price of $1,099 (or $999 for the Pixel 9 Pro), Google’s best Pixel to date is a little more approachable than rivals from Samsung and Apple. Pixel 9 Pro XL camera samples
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