Often people think that there are only a few smartphone brands on the market to choose from, when in fact that is no less true. While Samsung and Apple dominate the top end of the overall smartphone market, there are many options to choose from at almost any price point.
Android phones dominate the market, with an estimated 56 percent of all Australian smartphones running Android according to the Telsyte report that hit the market in the first half of 2022.
So making the choice to buy a new phone means weighing up all the options and if you go for Android there are a lot of options. For those looking for an iPhone, there is of course only one brand, but there are several options.
READ MORE: The best iPhones to buy from Apple’s bunch
What to look for when buying an Android phone
It’s important to note that “Android” is a phone operating system that was essentially created by Google to rival Apple’s iOS and has since been adopted by everyone but Apple.
However, when you enable three different phones from three different companies, even if they all use Android, you get three different user interfaces.
Any company can add a “layer” to Android that personalizes almost every aspect of the system. From the app icons to the layout of the settings and even what the home screen looks like.
But don’t let that stop you from switching phones or brands. Once you get past the cosmetic changes, they work the same way.
Choose a phone based on features. How big do you want the screen to be? How important is the quality of the cameras? What are you going to do on the phone?
With all that in mind, you stand a good chance of not only finding a great phone, but also saving a lot of money.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 5G, 512GB
Price: $2598
Screen size: 6.2-inch cover, 7.6-inch inside unfolded
Weight: 263g
Battery: 4400mAh
cameras: Triple rear plus selfie under screen
If you’re looking for the most innovative Android phone on the market, look no further than the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4. This is a refined masterpiece from Samsung, which has amassed a strong, loyal fan base with the early models, the 4th generation really takes it to the next level with a refined hinge mechanism and progressively smaller bezels around the screens.
It is an entirely new concept for a smartphone. Closed thick, but still fully functional with a full smartphone display on the cover. Full high-end rear camera system that can be used when the phone is open or closed.
Open it up and whatever you do on the outside will be transferred to a bigger screen in the middle, bigger screen, more workspace, even the ability to split the screen and launch multiple apps.
It’s not for everyone, but if you’re a screen junkie, this can be a game-changer.
This is a great unit, but for those who want it all, it’s a winner.
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra, 128GB
Price: $1797
Screen size: 6.8 inches
Weight: 228g
Battery: 5000mAh
cameras: Quad rear plus selfie
The reigning title holder when it comes to Android phones, the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra takes everything Samsung has learned about smartphones over many years into one device.
A huge screen for those who want everything at a glance, the Ultra takes Plus to a new level. Not just because it’s a stunning display with great brightness, an always active screen and a fast refresh rate, but because a big screen means more space underneath for a big battery and then some.
And that “something extra” here is the S-Pen. Inserted into the phone, just like the previous sister-generation Note series, this makes the S22 Ultra great for the note takers and sketchers among us.
Combine all that with simply the best camera system Samsung has produced and you have a winner. 100 times ‘space zoom’ is something no other smartphone has come close to and probably won’t do for a while.
This is a great unit, but for those who want it all, it’s a winner.
Google Pixel 6a 128GB
Price: $546.30
Screen size: 6.1 inches
Weight: 178g
Battery: 4306mAh
cameras: Double back plus selfie
For well under half the price of the Samsung, you can get a “vanilla” Android experience. That’s what we call it when Android is exactly as Google intended it to be, without those layers of customization by the phone brand. Since this is a Google phone, you would expect it to be vanilla.
The Pixel series phones are sleek designs with a simplistic yet strong and powerful Android experience.
Exceptional battery life is a must here, while the software features like Google’s Magic Eraser make photo editing a blast.
Speaking of which, while it only has a dual camera, don’t let that put you off its capabilities. Google has always had a magical touch with cameras that produce truly beautiful photographic results.
The Pixel lacks the zoom of other brands but makes up for that as an all-rounder. For the price of the Pixel 6a, it’s hard not to think of this as the best Android phone out there.
For me, it’s the first example of an important question that everyone should be asking, “Why am I spending so much on smartphones over $1000?”
Oppo Reno 8 Lite
Price: $463.20
Screen size: 6.43 inches
Weight: 173g
Battery: 4500mAh
cameras: Triple lens plus selfie
I find it baffling that more people aren’t jumping on phones like this Oppo Reno 8 Lite. It has a 6.43-inch screen with a punch selfie camera, nice square edges and a very thin 7.2mm profile including a minimal camera island.
In addition, the design of the back has a unique ‘rough’ look that feels smooth to the touch, and comes in a black or rainbow finish. Honestly, one of the better looking smartphones on the market.
If you carry data on a MicroSD card, it can be up to 1TB in size, so no data storage issues here!
For me, it’s the first example of an important question that everyone should be asking, “Why am I spending so much on smartphones over $1000?” Big savings if you want.
Oppo A74 128GB
Price: $399
Screen size: 6.43 inches
Weight: 190g
Battery: 5,000 mAh
cameras: Triple lens plus selfie
I suspect most people would be blown away by what a phone under $400 looks like. The Oppo A74 is an example of this. Sleek design, but most importantly a full screen front body.
The selfie camera on the Oppo A74 is a ‘hole punch’ design, meaning it’s a circle cut out of the screen for the camera to work through.
Looks the goods, and also delivers.
At this price point, the Oppo A74 and its siblings may be one of the better iPhone converting options for those who have used a much older phone.
Oppo’s take on Android is much more like Apple’s iOS than any other, making the customization process smoother. That said, it still has full Android capabilities and power.
I suspect most people would be blown away by what a phone under $400 looks like.
TCL 10 Pro
Price: $363.78
Screen size: 6.47 inch
Weight: 177g
Battery: 4500mAh
cameras: 64 MP quad camera system
TCL manages to do a few things very, very well here. One is their screen and the other is the design and great camera capabilities.
For the price, it is quite a remarkable device.
The camera array on the back of the phone is sleek and flush with the body, unlike almost every other brand with their camera islands. And it’s also a four-camera system. That means beautiful macro photos, wide-angle and standard shots.
All photos come to life on the NXTVision display, which mimics true colors in a brilliant display.
It has a large screen, great battery life up to the second day and takes great photos. The TCL 10 Pro is a great example of wondering why you’re spending more than this…
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