The best Android phones in 2020

Android phones – there’s so many. And there’s even more exciting models on the way. This year we’ve already had the stand-out S20 range from Samsung, and the photographers dream, the Huawei P40 Pro. For the autumn, we’ll be getting the latest Samsung Note phones and a dazzling new device from OnePlus too.

So, where do you start when you’ve got so many to choose from?

Whether you’re after a first-class camera, 5G superpowers, or a solid all-rounder that suits your budgets. We’ve found a phone for you. Here’s our rundown of which phone to choose, with all the features that matter most to you.

Let’s get stuck in.

There’s so much to say about this consistently excellent phone… It’s a pocket-size 6.2 inches, but packs the kind of power you’d expect from a much larger handset. That’s thanks to the 990 Exynos processor and 8GB of RAM, which is crucial because the S20’s 5G ready. You’ll need that extra heft to support those faster download speeds and more demanding activities, like low-lag gaming.

The screen and camera are pretty special too. The Infinity-O Display runs edge-to-edge with a refresh rate of 120Hz for smooth, crisp, perfect visuals. The triple camera has a 64MP Telephoto Camera, 10MP Front Camera, and 12MP Wide Camera. That’s some serious tech for pro-level shots, and you get a 30x zoom for defined, quality close-ups.

There are fancier phones out there. But this an impressive package and a real steal at the price.

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Samsung’s new flagship Note20 Ultra has the best of everything in one handset.

Starting with the screen: it’s a big, beautiful, 6.9 inch HD display. It comes with 3088 x 1440 resolution, and 120Hz refresh rate. Colours are gorgeous, details are sharp, and the motion is so slick.

You get 3 cameras on the front – a 108MP main camera, a 12MP telephoto, and 12MP ultra-wide. Plus, it’s got a 10MP selfie camera and you can take all your snaps with just one quick click of the stylus.

Yep, Samsung Note’s signature stylus is better than ever. It’s more responsive and reactive, with new gestures and improved features, like handwriting straightening and PDF annotations. The Note20 is a top-end package that’s hard to beat.

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The Nokia 2.2 may not be flashy, but it’s no lightweight either. It boasts a 5.7inch HD+ screen with a 13MP rear camera and a 5MP front camera.

It’s designed to do all the essentials smoothly, whether you’re browsing the web or downloading and running apps. You also get a bunch of handy AI features, such as AI imaging, Google Lens, and Google Assistant. The 3,000mAh battery really lasts, and it’s replaceable. So you can always carry a spare and swap it when you need to.

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Read more about our best budget phones

So many features combine to make the P40 Pro the camera phone to beat. The 50MP Ultra Vision Leica Quad Camera captures amazing quality and clarity whether it’s a close-up or an ultra-wide shot. And for selfies, you get a 32MP front camera with auto-focus and an IR depth camera for creating natural bokeh effects.

But the 50x SuperSensing Zoom is the real star. It pulls everything closer, while still delivering high resolution, sharp outlines, and accurate colours for stills or dynamic shots. Lowlight shots are a real speciality too. You’ll get beautiful detail for all your party pics and concert shots.

A bunch of smart AI features also enhance your every snap. Portrait mode analyses each scene, recreating lighting, natural colours, and sharp details for backgrounds and people. And for selfies, there’s intelligent optimisation on lighting, skin colour and texture to give you more accurate, personal results.

Look at our Huawei P40 Pro deals

Read more about good camera phones

OnePlus are great at making mid-price phones that punch above their weight. Highlights for the Nord include a stunning OLED screen complete with a 90Hz refresh rate for smooth, beautiful visuals. It’s 5G Ready with a generous 128GB internal memory. And the Oxygen operating system is much loved for its seamless user experience.

And it’s certainly no lightweight in the camera department. There’s a main 48MP front-facing camera, 8MP ultrawide camera, plus macro and depth lenses. And you get a 10x zoom, 4K video recording and HD slow motion video recording. On top of that, it comes with dual selfie mode. You just pick your best pic from either portrait or wide shot options.

Take a look at OnePlus Nord deals

OnePlus 8 prioritises performance over all else. It’s not stacked with features, and there are better cameras out there. But if you want to feel the force of 5G without breaking the bank, this is the phone for you.

The Snapdragon 865 processor is top of the line. And with 12GB RAM, OnePlus 8 is primed for next generation speeds, whether it’s lightning fast downloads, smooth streaming or real-time gaming. And thanks to a 90Hz refresh rate, the stunning 6.55inch screen can handle all the action.

The high capacity 4300mAh battery is there to keep you powered up throughout. And with Warp Charge, it takes just 30 mins to get it up to a 50% charge.

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5000mAh gives the Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra a massive power bank to draw from. Now of course, it’s a powerful 5G Ready phone. So the high capacity’s there to match the high power needed for 5G speed. If you’re using all its features at full pelt, it won’t last forever. But day-to-day, that power is really going to last.

You also get Super-Fast Charging, which gives you a quick power pick-up if your battery is running low. And as a bonus, you can help out a friend if their phone is low on juice. Use wireless charging to share some of the S20 Ultra’s charge and keep their phone going.

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Google have called the Pixel 5 the ‘security guard’ for your digital life. Its hardware and software have been specially designed to work together to keep everything secure. Upon launch, it was the first 5G phone to be given the most rigorous smartphone security certification.

Using a special Titan™ M chip, Pixel 5 protects the operating system and prevents unwanted access to any sensitive personal data. Any calls, texts, emails, and links are all scanned to neutralise any threats.

All apps downloaded from the Google Play Store are scanned daily to detect and prevent malware. And for your convenience, all security updates are performed in the background, so there are no interruptions.

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Samsung Note phones have always been top choice for scribblers and note takers. The improved S-Pen Stylus turns your handwritten notes into professional docs. You can control your phone with a whole range of gestures – and you don’t even need to touch the screen. You can even click and select by just pressing S-Pen’s button.

Note20 has full Microsoft Office integration, so you can access, edit, and update files on the go. And that also means your notes will be synced and available across multiple devices. New features include PDF annotation, audio annotation, and hand-writing straightening, so those hasty scribbles are more legible later on.

Discover our Samsung Galaxy Note20 offers