Best Android Phone 2026: Award-Winning Flagships and Picks for Every Buyer
Android in 2026 is more diverse than iOS — three distinct flagship philosophies, three distinct foldables, and the strongest budget tier in years. We rank the field using MKBHD's Smartphone Awards as the anchor: every pick below either won or placed in 2024 or 2025.
Updated · 7 picks · Rankings reflect MKBHD Smartphone Awards outcomes.
How we picked
Android phones that won or placed at MKBHD's 2024 or 2025 Smartphone Awards. Sorted by 'most rounded recommendation' first.
- #1
Runner-up Phone of the Year 2025 — best overall Android
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
Samsung · 2025 · From $1299
Runner-up Phone of the Year at MKBHD's 2025 Smartphone Awards. The S25 Ultra wins on raw spec sheet — 200MP main, 5x periscope, S Pen, 7-year update commitment, and the brightest mobile display in 2026.
Pros
- Runner-up Phone of the Year 2025
- S Pen, 200MP camera, 5x periscope
- Seven years of OS updates
Cons
- 232g — heavy
- $1,299 starting price
- #2
Won Most Improved at the 2024 Smartphone Awards. The Pixel 9 Pro is the smartest Android: best on-device AI features, cleanest software, and the most useful AI-driven photography tools (Magic Editor, Best Take).
Pros
- MKBHD's 2024 Most Improved
- Best on-device AI features
- Cleanest Android UI
Cons
- Tensor G4 trails Snapdragon 8 Elite
- Battery merely average
- #3
Won Best Foldable at MKBHD's 2025 Smartphone Awards. Thinnest, lightest book-fold to date, with Galaxy AI baked in and 7 years of OS updates. The most well-rounded foldable on the market.
Pros
- MKBHD's 2025 Best Foldable
- Thinnest book-fold yet
- Seven years of updates
Cons
- Crease still visible at certain angles
- Camera trails non-folding flagships
- #4
Won Best Battery at MKBHD's 2025 Smartphone Awards. 7,300 mAh silicon-carbon battery + 100W wired charging at a sub-flagship price. The best Android for buyers who hate battery anxiety.
Pros
- MKBHD's 2025 Best Battery
- 100W wired / 50W wireless charging
- Snapdragon 8 Elite
Cons
- Only 4 years of OS updates
- OxygenOS less polished than One UI
- #5
Won Best Small Phone at MKBHD's 2025 awards. Most pocketable flagship Android, with a 4.1-inch cover screen that's now usable as a standalone device.
Pros
- Most pocketable Android flagship
- Cover screen usable standalone
- Galaxy AI
Cons
- Battery life shorter than slabs
- $999 is steep for the form factor
- #6
Won Best Camera at MKBHD's 2025 awards. The first non-Apple/Google phone to win Best Camera in years. Triple 50MP system with the most consistent lens-to-lens output of any phone in 2026.
Pros
- MKBHD's 2025 Best Camera
- Most consistent triple-lens system
- Excellent low-light
Cons
- Limited US availability
- ColorOS less polished than One UI or Pixel UI
- #7
Won Phone of the Year at MKBHD's 2024 Smartphone Awards. Now $300+ off launch price. Same S Pen, same camera array, same 7-year update commitment as the S25 Ultra — for several hundred dollars less.
Pros
- MKBHD's 2024 Phone of the Year
- Now $300+ off launch
- Seven years of updates
Cons
- One generation behind on chipset
- Heavy at 232g
_front.svg){kind=tracking}
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the best Android phone in 2026?
The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra — runner-up Phone of the Year at MKBHD's 2025 Smartphone Awards. It's the most capable Android phone available.
Should I buy a Samsung or a Pixel in 2026?
Samsung if you want the most capable hardware (S Pen, longest zoom, brightest display). Pixel if you want clean Android, the best AI features, and a $300 lower starting price (Pixel 9 Pro vs S25 Ultra).
Is the Galaxy S25 Ultra worth it over the discounted S24 Ultra?
Probably not. The S24 Ultra (MKBHD's 2024 Phone of the Year) shares the same camera hardware, S Pen, and 7-year update commitment for $300+ less.
About this list
We index every phone that won or placed in MKBHD's annual Smartphone Awards (2014–2025) and surface the strongest matches for this category. Award badges link to the full award history. We earn a commission on purchases via our retailer links — at no extra cost to you.