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The Best Android phones for 2024: Top Picks for Cameras and Gaming

Which is the best Android phone to buy right now in 2024? Before shelling out a load of cash for Apple’s latest extravagance, you should definitely check out what you can get for half the price or less.

I have compiled a list of the best Android phones to help you find the right one for your specific needs.

You might be surprised by all the impressive technology packed into the latest mid-range mobiles. Brands like Samsung, Google, Motorola, OnePlus, and Nothing offer satisfying smartphone experiences for a fraction of the cost of a flagship device.

Capable cameras, proper gaming performance, gorgeous OLED displays, and tons of features that Apple can’t be bothered to include in the iPhone 16, such as a USB 3.0 port or an always-on display. Or even a bit of flashy disco lights—don’t like that? Tech Rover Mind has already reviewed dozens of mid-range smartphones in 2024.

Whether you’re after a premium smartphone, are an avid mobile photographer, a gamer, or need reliable performance every day, the mid-range market has something exciting for you. Below, you’ll find the best Android phones of 2024.

How I tested

I have personally tested almost all the phones on this list and used each one for more than 7 days, including inserting my SIM into the phones. I used them by logging into my regular apps and accounts.

I also collected personal feedback from my friends—what they liked and didn’t like. I am not part of any media or newspaper; I give my own opinion, which you can call a real user experience.

The things I share are:

Which phone’s features are better and which will be useful for you
Which features I didn’t like
The problems I faced with the phone

I do this so that you can choose a good phone and not have any problems after purchase

Best Camera Android Phone Under $500: Pixel 8a

Tech Rover Mind Rating: 8.5/10

Tech Rover Mind Battery Score: 7/10

Tech Rover Mind Camera Score: 9/10

One of your first mid-rangers is Google’s Pixel 8a, which is significantly cheaper than the Pixel 9 flagship but almost as good. Sure, the Pixel 8a is made of cheaper materials compared to its flagship sibling, but you wouldn’t know it unless it felt too heavy.

You still have a metal frame, and I prefer the fingerprint-free finish on the Pixel 8a compared to the shiny, fingerprint-prone back of the Pixel 9. The brains of this mid-range model is the same single-SIM Tensor G3 chipset that Google packed into the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro, complete with all of Google’s smart features. While it’s not the prettiest device, the Pixel 8a can handle serious gaming like Genshin Impact and rarely overheats.

The 6.1-inch OLED screen is a 90Hz slice of eye-pleasing goodness, while the stereo speakers aren’t too shabby either.

On the software side, it’s just as satisfying, with up to 7 years of OS and security updates to look forward to. One of the standout features of this Google handset is the excellent camera technology, making it one of the best Android phones in this price range. As a great example of the best Android phone, the Pixel 8a offers everything you’d want in a mid-range device. Despite being priced lower, it delivers many of the high-end features of the best Android phones. Whether you’re looking for performance or camera quality, the Pixel 8a stands out among the best Android phones available today.

While the hardware isn’t as advanced as the flagship, Google’s top-notch image processing ensures great-looking photos almost any time of day. And even if your photo doesn’t turn out great, no worries—Google’s editing tools will rescue even the most challenging snaps.

Of course, if you compare it to the iPhone 16, the latest launch, the iPhone 16 is better overall. However, there is a significant price difference, and it is important to remember that the iPhone 16 is a premium device. You will notice the difference as soon as you look at the specs below. The Pixel 8a is $300 cheaper than the iPhone, again one of the best Android phone, making it a good deal for many users.

Google Pixel 8a specs:

iPhone 16 specs:

Display: 6.1-inch OLED, 90Hz
Processor: Google Tensor G3
RAM: 8GB
Storage: 128GB (no microSD slot)
Rear Camera: 12.2MP main + 12MP ultrawide
Front Camera: 8MP
Battery: 4400mAh, fast charging
OS: Android 14 (with up to 7 years of updates)
Price: ~$499

iPhone 16 specs:

Display: 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED, 60Hz
Processor: A17 Bionic chip
RAM: 8GB
Storage: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB
Rear Camera: 48MP main + 12MP ultrawide
Front Camera: 12MP TrueDepth
Battery: 3561 mAh, fast charging, MagSafe
OS: iOS 18
Price: ~$799

Best Display Mid-Range Phone: OnePlus Nord 4

Tech Rover Mind Rating: 8.2/10

Tech Rover Mind Battery Score: 8/10

Tech Rover Mind Camera Score: 7/10

One of the best-loved mid-range phones right now is the OnePlus Nord 4, a full-metal banger that evokes glorious flashbacks of HTC and LG blowers from back in the day, making it a strong contender for the best Android phone in its category.

The Nord 4 comes complete with extended OS upgrade support and a nifty bit of OxygenOS, a proper gaming mode, and several other useful extras.

The huge 6.74-inch AMOLED screen is a beauty, and your pokes and prods will register even when the phone is fairly humid, making it ideal for a humid festival like the UK’s.

A capable Snapdragon 7 Plus Gen 3 powers the Nord 4, so it can handle anything you throw at it, including some serious gaming on titles like Genshin, without suffering the metaphorical prolapse of its anus.

Battery life here is excellent, which surely helps since it has a powerful 5,500 mAh capacity cell stuffed inside that metal body, which you won’t find in any mid-range phone. In 2024, it’s one of the biggest you’ll find on any phone.

Even when the Nord 4 is dry, you’ve got 100W SuperVOOC wide charging support, so plug a cable into it and it’ll charge so fast that you can tell it charges fast. Not really, not very fast, but it’s pretty nippy. And while the camera results aren’t quite as reliable as Google’s, the OnePlus mobile can still produce interesting-looking photos even in quite challenging conditions.

If you’re looking for a solid performer in the mid-range category, the Nord 4 is one of the best Android phones available. It stands out as the best Android phone for gaming, battery life, and charging speed. While not quite the best Android phone in every department, the Nord 4 offers excellent value for the price.

So overall, it’s a bit of a cracker.

OnePlus Nord 4 Specs:

Display: 6.74-inch Fluid AMOLED, 120Hz refresh rate
Processor: Snapdragon 7 Gen 1
RAM: 8GB / 12GB
Storage: 128GB / 256GB (no microSD card support)
Rear Camera:
- 50MP main
- 8MP ultrawide
- 2MP macro
Front Camera: 32MP
Battery: 5000mAh, fast charging (typically 80W)
OS: OxygenOS based on Android 13
Price: Approx. $400

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Best Battery Life Phone in 2024: Samsung Galaxy A55

Tech Rover Mind Rating: 7.6/10

Tech Rover Mind Battery Score: 8/10

Tech Rover Mind Camera Score: 7/10

If you’re ready to drop a lot of cash on Samsung’s latest Galaxy S24, or one of its bigger and pricier siblings, then put the fat back in your pants and consider the Galaxy A55 instead.

For starters, the A55’s Gorilla Glass Victus and metal design look just as luxurious as the premium-priced S24 efforts, and there’s a nice selection of colors on offer too.

Like the Pixel, this blower also boasts IP67 dust and water resistance. Good news for any slippery-fingered people who’ve had the heart-wrenching experience of dropping their shiny new blower into a sink, a bathtub, or, God forbid, a urinal.

Samsung also promises that Galaxy A55 owners will enjoy up to 5 years of OS and security updates on this shiny blower, making it another keeper.

That 6.6-inch 120Hz Super AMOLED screen has grown from last year’s model, but it still puts out sharp Full HD Plus images, complete with Samsung’s trademark poppy colors, while being bright enough for comfortable outdoor use. You’ve got microSD memory card support, eSIM support, and all the work.

Thankfully, despite being powered by another Samsung chipset, the Galaxy A55 offers a reasonably judder-free everyday experience and doesn’t stutter at all when faced with intensive games like Genshin.

Similarly, the generously sized 5,000mAh capacity battery should see you through the day, though, yes, the 25W charging support is slower than a blind turtle wearing concrete shoes. While the camera tech isn’t as solid as the S24’s, you’ll still hopefully be happy with the Galaxy A55’s photos in home movies, even if you don’t get the same excellent editing tools that Google’s Pixels offer.

Galaxy A55 Specs:

Display: 6.4-inch Super AMOLED, 120Hz refresh rate
Processor: Exynos 1380
RAM: 6GB / 8GB
Storage: 128GB / 256GB
Rear Camera:
- 64MP main
- 12MP ultrawide
- 5MP macro
- 5MP depth
Front Camera: 32MP
Battery: 5000mAh, fast charging (typically 25W)
OS: One UI 5.1 based on Android 13
Price: Approx. $ 489 8GB + 128GB

Rede more: Samsung Galaxy A55 Review

Best Cheap Android Phone Under $400:Samsung Galaxy A35 5G

Tech Rover Mind Rating: 7.4/10

Tech Rover Mind Battery Score: 8/10

Tech Rover Mind Camera Score: 6.5/10

Alternatively, for slightly less cash, there’s always the Samsung Galaxy A35. It’s another water-resistant blower with a 120Hz AMOLED display, stereo speakers, and some decent optics for a respectable price. Battery life is also brilliant, giving you stress-free gaming all day—no worries.

Performance is a bit shaky at times, but if you’re blessed with patience, unlike my good nature, you should do just fine. Here’s my full review of the Galaxy A35. You might have seen that Samsung has finally launched the Galaxy S24 FE, where FE stands for Fan Edition.

What it is, is a slightly cut-price version of the original flagship, stripped of some of the shiny bits to cut costs. But it’s not as interesting as the fan version.

Galaxy A35 Specs

Display: 6.5-inch Super AMOLED, Full HD+ (1080 x 2400 pixels), 60Hz refresh rate
Processor: Exynos 1280 or Snapdragon 695
RAM: 6GB / 8GB
Storage: 128GB / 256GB (expandable via microSD up to 1TB)
Rear Camera:
- 50MP main
- 8MP ultrawide
- 2MP macro
- 2MP depth
Front Camera: 13MP
Battery: 5000mAh, 25W fast charging
OS: One UI 5.1 based on Android 13
Price: Approx. $399 (varies by region)

Read more: Samsung Galaxy A35 Review

Best Premium Camera Phone 2024: Redmi Note 13 Pro Plus

Tech Rover Mind Rating: 8.5/10

Tech Rover Mind Battery Score: 9/10

Tech Rover Mind Camera Score: 8/10

Alternatively, one of the best manufacturers out there when it comes to offering beefy hardware for not much cash is Xiaomi, and you should check out the Redmi Note 13 Pro+.

The Note 13 Pro+ has a 6.67-inch, slightly curved screen with a leather-style finish. And if you don’t like this patchwork color attempt, you can also grab the Note 13 Pro+ in basic black or white. The frame is made of plastic, but you get a Gorilla Glass Victus front end, which is pretty good at not smashing to bits if you happen to drop the bugger

The phone is IP68 water and dust-resistant, so again, you can drop it in a sink, a bathtub, whatever, and it won’t bloody explode. That 6.67-inch OLED isn’t just sharper than the old model; it’s also super bright. You’ve got a MediaTek Dimensity 7200 Ultra running things, along with 12GB of RAM to help keep your apps and games running as smoothly as possible. So, I, Genshin Impact, don’t want this phone to empty its metaphorical bowels.

The chunky 5,000mAh battery comes with 120W wired charging support, making it one of the best Android phone for fast charging, though sadly, it lacks wireless charging support.

And while the 200MP primary camera might sound mighty impressive, don’t expect anything special. It’s a perfect snapper for capturing precious memories and sharing them with absolute strangers on social media. Alternatively, for a few dollars less, you can…

Redmi Note 13 Pro Plus Specs:

Display: 6.67-inch AMOLED, 120Hz refresh rate, 2712 x 1220 pixels resolution
Processor: MediaTek Dimensity 7200 Ultra
RAM: 8GB / 12GB
Storage: 256GB / 512GB (no microSD support)
Rear Camera:
- 200MP main (with OIS)
- 8MP ultrawide
- 2MP macro
Front Camera: 16MP
Battery: 5000mAh, 120W fast charging
OS: MIUI 14 based on Android 13
Price: Approx. $350 – $450 (varies by region and configuration)

Best Cheap AMOLED Display Phone: Redmi Note 13 Pro 5G

Tech Rover Mind Rating: 8.5/10

Tech Rover Mind Battery Score: 9/10

Tech Rover Mind Camera Score: 8/10

Alternatively, for a little less cash, you can grab the Redmi Note 13 Pro 5G, which may lose the Plus designation but is still a bit of a mid-range corker. It’s not water-resistant, and the battery charges a bit slower, but the only other change is the chipset.

That 7200 Ultra has been swapped out for Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 7S Gen 2. Gamers will prefer the pricier Plus model for demanding titles like Genshin, but you’ll still get a bloody good experience with the Pro 5G, even if you leave the graphics settings down.

If you want to liven up your afternoon with some sweat-inducing three-way action, I recommend checking out the Redmi Note 13 Pro Plus, Pro 5G, and non-Pro models.

Redmi Note 13 Pro 5G Specs:

Display: 6.67-inch AMOLED, 2400 x 1080 pixels (FHD+), 120Hz refresh rate
Processor: Snapdragon 7s Gen 2
RAM: 8GB / 12GB / 16GB
Storage: 128GB / 256GB
Rear Camera:
- 200MP (main, f/1.7, PDAF, OIS)
- 8MP (ultrawide, f/2.2)
- 2MP (macro, f/2.4)
Front Camera: 16MP (f/2.5)
Battery: 5100mAh, 67W fast charging
Operating System: MIUI 14 based on Android 13
Price: Approx. $300 – $400 (varies by region)

Best Mid-Range High-Performance Smartphone: Xiaomi 14T

Tech Rover Mind Rating: 8.5/10

Tech Rover Mind Battery Score: 9/10

Tech Rover Mind Camera Score: 8.5/10

If you have a bit more cash to splash on your mid-range smartphone, I would highly recommend the Xiaomi 14T.

It’s another 6.67-inch with IP68 water and dust resistance, but the plastic frame makes it feel cheap. That big AMOLED screen is the same as the Redmi’s, except this time you’ve got both HDR10 Plus and Dolby Vision support. It’s bright enough to see clearly on a sunny day, while the refresh rate scales up to a creamy smooth 144Hz.

Great for any gamers out there. Speaking of which, that performance is a step up with MediaTek’s Dimensity 8300 Ultra, which is kept nice and quiet thanks to Xiaomi’s stainless steel vapor chamber. And when you drain that 5,000mAh battery, you can refill it pretty quickly with the 67W HyperCharge action. Again, the bugger is all about wireless charging.

Xiaomi’s 50MP main camera is powered by some Leica processing smarts to help create sharp, detail-packed snaps with a natural or bright and vibrant finish, along with a telephoto shooter to get up close to the full action. Overall, the Xiaomi 14T is a bit of a banger. It doesn’t do anything different, but it does everything well.

Xiaomi 14T Specs:

Processor: MediaTek Dimensity 8300 Ultra
Display: 6.67″ AMOLED, 1220 x 2712 pixels, 144Hz, HDR10+
RAM/Storage Options:
- 12GB RAM with 256GB storage
- 12GB RAM with 512GB storage
- 16GB RAM with 512GB storage
Rear Camera: Triple: 50MP (wide) + 50MP (telephoto, 2.6x zoom) + 12MP (ultrawide)
Front Camera: 32MP
Battery: 5000mAh with 67W fast charging
OS: Android 14, HyperOS
Weight: 195g

Best Mid-Range OLED Display Phone: Motorola Edge 50 Neo

Tech Rover Mind Rating: 8/10

Tech Rover Mind Battery Score: 8/10

Tech Rover Mind Camera Score: 7.5/10

One of their best offerings at the moment is the Motorola Edge 50 Neo, which is delightfully compact like that Pixel, but with a strokeably soft back that’s really rather stunning, as well as a brilliant selection of colors. And don’t be fooled by the soft touch either, because the Neo is a tough device.

It’s got IP68 water and dust resistance and can survive extreme temperatures, which will come in handy next time you’re out in Sunderland. The 6.4-inch POLED screen is eye-pleasingly bright and vibrant, while the Dimension Smart is surprisingly good for gaming. And while the Moto Edge 50 Neo sports a dinky battery, it can barely last a full day, with fast wired charging available.

That 50-megapixel Sony Lightyear camera is pretty good for your everyday family photos. You also get a telephoto portrait lens on the back end, which is quite rare for this price point. I also like that stock Android vibe, with the bonus that Motorola offers a good few years of OS and security updates with the Neo, which is unusual for them.

Motorola Edge 50 Neo Specs

Display: 6.55-inch OLED, 2400 x 1080 pixels, 120Hz refresh rate
Processor: MediaTek Dimensity 7300
RAM: 8GB / 12GB
Storage: 128GB / 256GB (expandable via microSD)
Rear Camera:
- 50MP (main)
- 13MP (ultrawide)
- 10MP (telephoto)
Front Camera: 32MP
Battery: 4500mAh with 68W fast charging
OS: Android 14
Price: $499. This price starts at.

Best Cheap Camera Mobile: Motorola Edge 50 Fusion

Tech Rover Mind Rating: 8.5/10

Tech Rover Mind Battery Score: 8.5/10

Tech Rover Mind Camera Score: 8/10

The Motorola Edge 50 Fusion is a large device at 6.67 inches. It packs a big battery, as well as extra storage if needed, though you’ll also lose the portrait camera lens, and the Fusion isn’t quite capable enough for gaming activities. Additionally, Motorola’s software support commitment isn’t as strong here.

Motorola Edge 50 Fusion Specs:

Display: 6.67-inch AMOLED, 120Hz refresh rate
Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8-series or equivalent
RAM: 8GB/12GB options
Storage: 128GB/256GB (expandable via microSD)
Rear Cameras:
- Main: 50MP
- Ultrawide: 12MP
- Macro/Depth: 5MP
Front Camera: 32MP
Battery: 5000mAh with 65W fast charging
Operating System: Android 14 (near-stock experience)

Best Premium Design Phone Right Now: Nothing Phone 2

Tech Rover Mind Rating: 8.5/10

Tech Rover Mind Battery Score: 8/10

Tech Rover Mind Camera Score: 7.5/10

Alternatively, if you’re looking to spend a little more cash on your next purchase, check out the fully-built Nothing Phone 2. The Nothing Phone 2 is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1, which means smooth performance for long periods. The slightly larger battery, combined with the energy-efficient chipset, means you’ll get a bit longer from each charge.

You’ve got a bigger, brighter display, an upgraded rear and front camera, and the glyph disco lighting has been redesigned with more zones than before, along with some nifty new features. Motorola is another manufacturer that produces several mid-range smartphones yearly, and 2024 was certainly no exception.

Nothing Phone 2 Specs:

Display: 6.7-inch AMOLED, 120Hz refresh rate, HDR10+ support
Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1
RAM: 8GB/12GB options
Storage: 128GB/256GB (non-expandable)
Rear Cameras:
- Main: 50MP (f/1.88)
- Ultrawide: 50MP (f/2.2)
Front Camera: 32MP
Battery: 4700mAh with 15W wireless charging, 45W wired charging
Operating System: Nothing OS based on Android 13

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Alvi Hosain

I am a tech enthusiast with over 1.5 years of experience in phone reviews and gadgets. Passionate about making technology easier for everyone, I focus on creating smartphone reviews and detailed tech guides. Whether exploring the latest devices or providing tips on how to get the most out of your gadgets, I love helping others navigate the world of technology. Known among my friends for solving phone-related problems, I enjoy discussing technology and staying up-to-date with the latest industry trends.