Many people choose Android for its freedom — the freedom to use whatever apps you’d like, the freedom to customize your device as you see fit, and so on. Customization is important because it helps make smartphones truly our own. But since no two people are truly alike, the most important freedom that Android offers is being able to choose the perfect phone to fit our specific needs.
Having a wide selection of Android phones is a good thing, but with so many Android phones to choose from, picking the right one can become a bit overwhelming. But don’t worry — Swappa’s here to help you find the best Android phone for you.
How to pick the right Android phone for you
There are many points to consider when selecting your next Android phone – screen size, processor, battery life, RAM, cameras, software, and more. But not all of these features matter equally to all people.
Gamers and power users demand the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon processors, whereas those primarily using their phones to browse the web or stay in touch with family and friends can save money on something a bit older. Similarly, large screens and huge batteries are great for content consumption and productivity — but not everyone wants to lug around a gigantic device everywhere they go.
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Hottest new Android phones in 2021
Samsung recently unveiled its latest-generation Galaxy S21 flagships at CES 2021. Without question, the Galaxy S21 is the hottest new Android phone. This year, we have three flagship Samsung phones: the mainstream Galaxy S21, the larger and slightly more upscale Galaxy S21 Plus, and the do-it-all powerhouse Galaxy S21 Ultra.
Galaxy S21 vs S21 Plus vs S21 Ultra
The Galaxy S21 and Galaxy S21 Plus pack vibrant 1080p displays with 120Hz refresh rates for buttery smooth motion, differing only by screen size and build quality. Both S21 variants feature a great camera with 3x telephoto and ultrawide lenses, 5G wireless connectivity, a visually stunning “Contour Cut” industrial design, 8GB of RAM, and the latest Snapdragon 888 processor — the fastest processor you can find on an Android device today. The Galaxy S21 Ultra builds on this by also offering 10x periscope zoom, a higher resolution 1440p display, a 40MP f/2.2 selfie camera, and up to 12GB of memory for limitless multitasking.
| Samsung Galaxy S21 | Samsung Galaxy S21 Plus | Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 (8-core) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 (8-core) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 (8-core) |
| Screen Size | 6.2 inches | 6.7 inches | 6.8 inches |
| Display Technology | Dynamic AMOLED 2x Infinity-O Display | Dynamic AMOLED 2x Infinity-O Display | Dynamic AMOLED 2x Infinity-O Display |
| Display Resolution | 2400×1080 pixels, 421 ppi | 2400×1080 pixels, 394 ppi | 3200×1440 pixels, 515 ppi |
| Refresh Rate | 48-120 Hz | 48-120 Hz | 10-120 Hz |
| S-Pen Stylus Support | No | No | Yes |
| Rear Cameras | Wide-angle: 12MP, f/1.8, 26mm Ultrawide: 12MP, f/2.2, 13mm Telephoto: 64MP, f/2.0, 29mm | Wide-angle: 12MP, f/1.8, 26mm Ultrawide: 12MP, f/2.2, 13mm Telephoto: 64MP, f/2.0, 29mm | Wide-angle: 108MP, f/1.8, 26mm Ultrawide: 12MP, f/2.2, 13mm Telephoto: 10MP, f/2.4, 70mm Periscope Zoom: 10MP, f/4.9, 240mm |
| Selfie Camera | 10MP, f/2.2, 26mm | 10MP, f/2.2, 26mm | 40MP, f/2.2, 26mm |
| Storage | 128GB, 256GB | 128GB, 256GB | 128GB, 256GB, 512GB |
| RAM | 8GB RAM | 8GB RAM | 8GB or 12GB RAM |
| Battery | 4000 mAh | 4800 mAh | 5000 mAh |
| Dimensions | 71.2mm (w) x 151.7mm (h) x 7.9mm (d) | 75.6mm (w) x 161.5mm (h) x 7.8mm (d) | 75.6mm (w) x 165.1mm (h) x 8.9mm (d) |
| Weight | 171g | 202g | 229g |
| Water Resistance | IP68 water and dust resistance | IP68 dust and water resistance | IP68 dust and water resistance |
| Release Date | January 29, 2021 | January 29, 2021 | January 29, 2021 |
| MSRP | $799+ | $999+ | $1199+ |
| Swappa Price | $570 | $825 | $925 |
Although these premium Galaxy phones come with similarly premium price tags, Swappa can help you upgrade for less. You can already find all three phones on Swappa, priced up to $159 below retail. You probably already know that Swappa gets you the most money for your used Samsung Galaxy phone, so make sure to sell your existing phone to help fund your upgrade. Learn more about these Galaxy flagships in our Galaxy S21 Buyer’s Guide, Galaxy S21 Plus Buyer’s Guide, and Galaxy S21 Ultra Buyer’s Guide.
Which Android phone has the best camera?
It’s time to shift gears a bit and focus on the (mega) Pixels. Long gone are the days when Android phones lagged behind the iPhone in terms of photo and video quality. Instead, today’s Android flagships all feature superb camera systems that can go toe-to-toe with the best Cupertino has to offer. But if we had to single out just one Android product line as having the best all-around camera, it would be the Google Pixel.
Google Pixel 4 vs Pixel 4 XL
| Google Pixel 4 | Google Pixel 4 XL | |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 (8-core) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 (8-core) |
| Screen Size | 5.7-inch P-OLED | 6.3-inch P-OLED |
| Display Technology | P-OLED with HDR Certification | P-OLED with HDR Certification |
| Display Resolution | 2280×1080, 444 ppi | 3040×1440, 444 ppi |
| Refresh Rate | “Smooth Display” up to 90 Hz | “Smooth Display” up to 90 Hz |
| Rear Cameras | Wide-angle: 12.2 MP f/1.7 (77° FOV) Telephoto: 16 MP f/2.4 (52° FOV) | Wide-angle: 12.2 MP f/1.7 (77° FOV) Telephoto: 16 MP f/2.4 (52° FOV) |
| Selfie Camera | 8MP f/2.0 (90° FOV) | 8MP f/2.0 (90° FOV) |
| Storage | 64 or 128GB | 64 or 128GB |
| RAM | 6GB LPDDR4X | 6GB LPDDR4X |
| Battery | 2800mAh w/ 18W Fast Charge | 3700mAh w/ 18W Fast Charge |
| Dimensions | 68.8 (W) x 147.1 (H) x 8.2 (D) mm | 68.8 (W) x 147.1 (H) x 8.2 (D) mm |
| Weight | 162 grams | 193 grams |
| Water Resistance | IP68 water and dust resistance | IP68 water and dust resistance |
| Price | Starting at $249 | Starting at $290 |
The Google Pixel 4 and Google Pixel 4 XL are feature-packed devices with speedy Snapdragon 855 processors, silky-smooth 90Hz displays with HDR certification, 6GB of RAM, and the purest form of Android you can find. And as the Pixel name implies, all Google Pixel phones pack class-leading camera hardware and software capable of capturing some of the best images you’ll get on any smartphone. Both Pixel 4 phones pack a 12.2-megapixel f/1.7 wide-angle lens (77-degree FOV) and a 16MP f/2.4 telephoto (52-degree FOV).
The Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL go beyond great hardware — they also feature Google’s computational photography toolbox, which makes extensive use of machine learning algorithms to bring you features such as Night Sight with Astrophotography, Advanced Portrait Mode, Dual Exposure Controls, and Live HDR+. With prices starting well under $300, the Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL are the best cheap Android phones with amazing cameras. Find out how these Pixels stack up to other devices in our Pixel 4 Comparison and Pixel 4 XL Comparison pages.
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Best Android phone for gaming
Now, it’s time for gaming on the go. We recently took a look at the best gaming phones and named the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE as our top gaming phone that doesn’t break the bank. Featuring a powerful 8-core Snapdragon 865 CPU with Adreno 650 GPU backed by up to 8GB of RAM, the S20 FE doesn’t play around. And with its 6.5-inch Super AMOLED screen, 120Hz refresh rate for smooth motion, and HDR10+ certification, your games will look as good as they play.
The best part about the Galaxy S20 FE is that it starts at just $459 on Swappa. With great specs, build quality, cameras, and features, the S20 FE truly does it all — while saving you money in the process. Learn more in our Galaxy S20 FE Buyer’s Guide.
Android Phone with the best battery life
When it comes to battery life, size is key. In other words, you want a large phone with an even larger battery. No phone epitomizes this mantra better than the Samsung Galaxy Note family. The current-generation Galaxy Note 20 5G and Galaxy Note 20 Ultra 5G are the best Galaxy Note devices yet.
Since its humble beginnings in 2011, the Galaxy Note has evolved into a productivity powerhouse thanks to its large screen, Wacom-powered S-Pen technology, and innovative software. And since Samsung packs every note with a huge battery pack, you can expect to get over a full day of heavy use on a Galaxy Note without having to recharge.
For most people, the best Note is the Galaxy Note 20 5G. Released in August 2020, the Note 20 5G features the speedy Snapdragon 865+ processor, 8GB of RAM, 128 or 256GB of internal storage, and a massive 4300 mAh battery. But if you want the absolute best that the Galaxy Note lineup has to offer, look no further than the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra 5G. Learn more about these Galaxy Notes in our Galaxy Note 20 Buyer’s Guide and Galaxy Note 20 Ultra Buyer’s Guide.
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Best small Android phone
On the other end of the spectrum, we have small phones. With the push towards larger screens, devices with diminutive dimensions have become less popular. However, there are still a few great small phones out there. Our choice of the best small Android phone has to go to the Google Pixel 4.
Coming in at just 147 x 68.8 x 8.2mm, the Pixel 4 is one of the smallest Android phones that you can buy. But thanks to its relatively slim bezels, the Pixel 4 manages to cram in a large 5.7-inch screen running at 1080 x 2280 resolution and up to 90Hz refresh rate.
As we mentioned earlier when highlighting the best Android camera phones, the Pixel 4 is a powerful device that packs plenty of modern features, a phenomenal camera, and the pure Google Experience. And since it’s a Pixel device, the Pixel 4 will continue to get first-party Android software updates months before Samsung, LG, and even OnePlus phones do. With prices starting at under $250, the Pixel 4 is just an all-around phenomenal phone. Check out our Google Pixel 4 comparison to see how the Pixel 4 compares to other devices in the Pixel family.
Best budget Android phone under $300
What if you don’t have a particular feature set in mind, and you just want the best Android phone that fits your budget? In that case, the Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL are the best budget Android phones under $300. As we mentioned earlier, the Pixel 4 family offers a powerful Snapdragon 855 chip, 6GB of RAM, a 90Hz high refresh rate screen, and one of the best cameras you can get on Android. And since both phones can be found for as low as $250, they won’t break the bank either.
The Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL share the same key specs and cost about the same on Swappa, so you can make your choice based on which screen size you prefer. Get the best prices on gently used Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL devices below. Learn more in our Pixel 4 Buyer’s Guide and Pixel 4 XL Buyer’s Guide.
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Best cheap Android Phone under $200
If you want something even cheaper, look no further than the Samsung Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9 Plus. Although they are about three years old now, these former flagships offer large and vibrant displays, fast Snapdragon 845 processors, and good battery life.
The Galaxy S9 features a 5.8-inch Super AMOLED with an 84% screen-to-body ratio, 4GB RAM for competent multitasking, Intelligent Scan facial recognition, and a 3000 mAh battery for all-day use. The larger Galaxy S9 Plus improves on this with a 6.2-inch Super AMOLED screen, 6GB RAM for even smoother multitasking, and a larger 3500 mAh battery to make sure you aren’t tethered to the wall. Both former flagships carried premium prices at launch, but you can get them on Swappa for well under $200. See how these devices stack up to other Galaxy S phones in our Galaxy S9 Comparison and Galaxy S9 Plus Comparison pages
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Swappa’s Quick Picks
The Google Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL won multiple categories in this best Android phones roundup, but if you’ve made it this far and are still having a hard time deciding, we’ll make it easy for you:
- Best Android flagship phones in 2021: Galaxy S21, Galaxy S21 Plus, Galaxy S21 Ultra
- Best Android camera phone: Google Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL
- Best gaming phone: Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G
- Android phone with the best battery life: Galaxy Note 20 and Note 20 Ultra
- Best small Android phone: Google Pixel 4
- Best budget Android phone under $300: Google Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL
- Best cheap Android phone under $200: Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9 Plus
No matter which phone you choose, you’ll always find the best deals on Swappa. Our safe and easy-to-use marketplace cuts out the middlemen, so you pay less for your gently used tech. Each and every listing gets reviewed by our expert moderation team before it goes live in order to keep out scams and junk devices. So buy with confidence and get the best deals on the perfect Android phone today!
