When Google purchased a small company known as Android Inc., they hoped to give Apple some competition in the mobile industry. They started releasing Android-operated smartphones within a couple of years, and by 2017, more than 80 percent of all smartphones sold globally utilized the Android operating system. While Apple is still a dominant figure in the industry, Android has taken over the world with developing technology in cars and television sets.
Are you ready for a new Android smartphone? If so, you have a lot of choices in today’s cluttered market. To help, we’ve highlighted a few of the best options to give your research a jump start.
Google Pixel 4
Price: $799
If top-quality photos and videos are a priority for you, look no further than the Google Pixel 4. It boasts an outstanding camera and some of the most advanced photography features on the market
The Pixel 4’s dual cameras work together to take some of the best photos a smartphone can offer. Use portrait mode to give your primary subject a sharp focus against a softly blurred background. On the other hand, use the telephoto option for a clear zoom even at long-range. Moreover, the Frequent Faces feature can help you get the best shots of friends and family. This feature recognizes familiar faces to help take perfectly timed photos when they are smiling and their eyes are open.
Using the camera flash in low-light environments carries the risk of producing oddly bright pictures. To fight this problem is Pixel 4’s Night Sight feature. This feature eliminates this problem by pulling in just the right amount of ambient light without using a flash. The result is a clear, realistic image that retains its distinctive nighttime setting. If you’ve always wanted to photograph the stars or the moon, the astrophotography mode gives you the ability to capture images of the night sky in striking detail and brightness.
In addition to all the features for capturing pictures, the Pixel 4 is adept at shooting ultra-sharp videos. An easy-to-use slider bar lets you adjust the individual levels of shadow and brightness while shooting. Therefore, you won’t have to worry about going back and fixing any lighting issues afterward.
Thanks to the Pixel 4’s 90Hz refresh capability, you can enjoy an uninterrupted experience while scrolling on social media or navigating the web. The large, bright screen also offers great color saturation and contrast.
Google used advanced facial-recognition technology for the Pixel 4’s phone and app unlocking mechanisms. Plus, Motion Sense takes advantage of radar for hands-free phone controls.
Pros
- Exceptional photo quality regardless of ambient light
- Amazing astrophotography feature
- Fast 90Hz refresh rate
- Control various functions without having to touch your phone
Cons
- No option to use a fingerprint scanner
- High price tag
Samsung Galaxy S10
Price: $549
Samsung eliminated the front home button for the S10, creating an extended screen that functions completely by touch. If you’ve held your finger in place on other phones while patiently waiting for a fingerprint lock to register your print, this phone will save you some time. The fingerprint lock is built into the screen, so your phone will open with just a single touch.
The advanced technology doesn’t end there. Wireless PowerShare allows your Galaxy S10 to function as a charger for other Galaxy devices and some phones. Simply touch your S10 to the other device and watch it power up the other device quickly.
Some Android phones also require you to wait when switching from a Wi-Fi connection to your phone’s network. Samsung cut out that wait time with an upgrade that allows the S10 to switch from Wi-Fi to LTE without pause. When you go out of your Wi-Fi connection’s range, the switch happens without you even noticing.
With virtually no input lag and multiple built-in lenses for the camera, the S10 is the dream phone for high-tech users.
Pros
- Wireless PowerShare
- Fast Wi-Fi
- Little to no input lag
- Built-in camera lens
Cons
- The international model has some limitations in the U.S.
OnePlus 7 Pro
Price: $699
It’s tough to compete with Samsung’s Galaxy line and the official Google phones, but OnePlus has the technology to make it happen.
The OnePlus 7 Pro features a sleek design with crystal screen clarity and high-resolution imagery. The screen extends from one curved edge to the next, ensuring you don’t miss a detail when watching videos, browsing social media, or playing games.
With a 90Hz refresh rate and an AMOLED display, you can expect to swipe your way from one screen to the next without delay. Charging is also a fast process. You can go from dead to fully juiced in about 20 minutes.
Do you like taking pictures with your smartphone? You may fall in love with the 7 Pro’s camera. The camera has three lenses, so you can choose the best option for every scenario. The ultra-wide lens allows you to squeeze larger landscapes into the camera’s view, taking home more expansive memories than other phones may capture.
Pros
- Fast charging
- Beautiful screen designed for speed
- Three camera lenses
Cons
- A lesser-known brand with fewer users
Conclusion
That sneak peek should give you some idea of what Android phones have to offer today. The competition is stiff to create highly functional phones that look just as amazing as they feel in your hand.
The only potential downside is that many Android phones now have a glass covering the full front side. Many also have glass on the backside. So, a durable case to protect the glass is essential. You may also want to invest in a few stylus pens since many Android phones are doing away with the home button to rely entirely on touch operations.
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