Best Android phones, Best affordable Android phones you can buy [July 2018] , Best smartphones of 2018,best android phone 2018
Best Android phones (July 2018): Our picks , Best smartphones of 2018,best android phone 2018
The best gifts for Android users
NEW FOR JULY:
Nokia 3.1
Nokia’s rise to fame in the Android space has been thanks in large part to its affordable devices, and not long ago, the company launched the Nokia 3.1. This device might not impress on paper, but with an affordable price and stellar support, it’s easy to recommend.The Nokia 3.1 is powered by a MediaTek MT6750 chipset, 2GB of RAM, 16GB of storage, and a 2,990 mAh battery. It also has a 5.2-inch HD+ display, 13MP rear camera, and 8MP front-facing camera. That’s a pretty simple package, but for just $159, it’s a solid offering.
The biggest selling point here, though, is software. Nokia has made a big commitment to updates with the Android One program, and for the Nokia 3.1, that means you’ll be buying an affordable device that will get timely security updates, and even a guaranteed Android P upgrade.
The Nokia 3.1 is available for sale now at Best Buy and Amazon, and works on GSM carriers here in the States such as T-Mobile and AT&T.
Moto Z3 Play
While the Moto Z lineup as a whole hasn’t really been popular this year, the “Z Play” collection has been a great option year by year. For 2018, the Moto Z3 Play delivers a refresh to the Z2 Play, this time with better specs, a refreshed design, and some extras for the price point.The Moto Z3 Play’s biggest change comes in the form of the design. The metal back of the Z2 is gone, replaced with a glass back more akin to the original Moto Z Play. As you’d expect, the device still works with Moto Mods, meaning there are still pins towards the bottom and a big camera bump at the top.
Up front, though, things have been refreshed a lot more. The display is now a larger 6.01-inch 18:9 panel with on-screen navigation keys. It has slimmer bezels all around, and the fingerprint sensor has been pushed over to the side of the device as well.
As for specifications, the Moto Z3 Play runs on top of a Snapdragon 636 processor paired with 4GB of RAM and either 32GB or 64GB of internal storage. It also offers Android 8.1 Oreo out of the box and a 3,000 mAh battery w/ fast charging over USB-C. There’s also a dual 12MP/5MP camera setup on the back and an 8MP sensor up front.
Pricing on the Moto Z3 Play lands at $499 (or $449 through Amazon’s Prime Exclusive program) unlocked for all carriers. The phone also ships with a Moto Battery Mod in the box. Orders are open now through Amazon, Best Buy, B&H Photo, Motorola, and more.
FROM EARLIER THIS YEAR:
Nokia 6.1
Nokia made its return to the smartphone space just over a year ago, and in the time since it’s seen some major success. Now, the company is starting to roll out its various releases for 2018, and that starts with the Nokia 6.1.A follow-up to last year’s Nokia 6, the 6.1 refreshes that successful phone with updated specs, a refined design, and inclusion in Google’s Android One program. The phone is powered by a Snapdragon 630 processor, has a 5.5-inch display with on-screen navigation, a rear-facing fingerprint sensor, 16MP dual-camera, and USB-C for fast charging. That’s all wrapped up in a metal body with a 3,000 mAh battery.
Out of the box the phone runs on top of Android Oreo and as part of the Android One program, it’ll definitely be getting updated on the regular. Unfortunately, this one is limited to GSM carriers only, meaning you’ll need to be using AT&T or T-Mobile as far as major networks go here in the States.
If you’re interested in picking up the Nokia 6.1, it’s available now from Amazon or Best Buy for $269.
Best Android Phones You Can Buy
Moto G6/Play
Motorola basically defined what a budget Android smartphone should be years ago with the original Moto G. Over the years, that lineup has evolved a lot, but its core remains the same – an awesome Android phone for an affordable price point.For 2018, we’ve got the Moto G6 family. This set of three Android smartphones takes a few design cues from the well-received Moto X4, but with some choice alterations. Firstly, let’s establish that in the United States, only the Moto G6 and Moto G6 Play will be available, with the higher-end G6 Plus being restricted to other regions (for the time being anyway).
The standard Moto G6 arrives with a Snapdragon 450 under the hood paired with 3GB/4GB of RAM, and 32/64GB of storage. There’s a 5.9-inch, 18:9 2160×1080 display up front, as well as a dual-camera system around back that has a primary 12MP sensor backed up by a 5MP sensor for “depth.” There’s also a fingerprint sensor on this device at the bottom of the display, as well as USB-C for charging.
With the Moto G6 Play, you’ll save $50 but lose out on quite a bit. Here, you’re getting a smaller 5.7-inch 18:9 1440×720 display without a fingerprint sensor, as well as just a single 13MP rear camera. Under the hood, the phone is powered by the Snapdragon 427 with 2/3GB of RAM, and just 16GB of storage. It’s not a terrible package, but the only truly redeeming quality is the 4,000 mAh battery (that charges over microUSB).
At $249 and $199 respectively, these aren’t terrible phones by any means. In fact, with Oreo out of the box and support for all US carriers, they’re quite good. My one reservation, though, is Motorola’s update policy which is, to be frank, pathetic this year. We’ve got more on that in another article, but basically, don’t expect on-time security updates or a timely Android P update.
If you’re interested in picking up the Moto G6 or Moto G6 Play, hit up the links below.
Alcatel 1X
On this list, you’ll generally find phones that range from around $100 up to about $500. Of course, sometimes even less expensive phones are needed, but we’ve often avoided listing those because, well, really cheap Android phones are generally pretty terrible. Google is trying to fix that, though, with the arrival of Android Go, and Alcatel’s 1X is one of the first devices available in the US with it.There’s nothing on the Alcatel 1X that qualifies it as a high-end device. The phone is powered by a MediaTek chipset, has a just 1GB of RAM and 16GB of storage, and a measly 960×480 5-inch display. Android Go is its saving grace, though, as early reports gave the phone a lot of credit for running it well on such minimal specs.
If you’re interested in picking up the Alcatel 1X, it’s available now through Amazon for $99 and works on GSM carriers.
Honor View10
After debuting in China last year, Honor is bringing its View10 flagship to the United States. This device packs flagship specs into a price tag that is half of most other options on the market. At $499 unlocked, it impressively offers a Kirin 970, the same chipset powering the Huawei Mate 10 Pro.Alongside that powerful chipset, there’s 6GB of RAM, Android Oreo, and a whopping 128GB of storage. You won’t find anything else packing that sort of power under $500. There’s also an 18:9 display and dual-camera array on the back, all with Huawei’s EMUI skin which is… fine
The main reason this phone is worth considering is admittedly its price and its price alone. It’s rare to find such a good value with so few strings attached. The Honor View10 is available now.
Honor 7X
Huawei’s sub-brand Honor has done a lot in the past few years to expand its US presence, and the X series of phones has been a major part of that. The 5X was a hit with the press and the public, and last year’s Honor 6X was a pretty awesome device as well.Now, though, we’ve got the Honor 7X. This $199 device has been on sale in the US for a fair bit, and it’s one of the best you can get right now.
The Honor 7X has a lot of impressive selling points for its low price tag. That includes a Kirin 659 processor, 3GB of RAM, 32GB of storage, a huge 3,340 mAh battery, and Android Nougat. That’s a pretty nice package for the price tag, and the 5.93-inch FHD 18:9 display up front is certainly a highlight. There’s also a fingerprint sensor and a dual-camera array (16MP/2MP).
I’ve spent a bit of time using the Honor 7X personally, and it’s a pretty excellent device overall. At the very least, it’s ready to compete with the rest of the budget Android market, and should absolutely be on your list of considerations. You can pick up an Honor 7X from Honor’s website or from Amazon for $199.
Moto X4
One of the most notable releases in the affordable space has been the Moto X4 from Motorola. The return of the well-known Moto X line is totally different this time around than it was in years past, but it brings a lot of interesting things to the table.Under the hood, the Moto X4 offers a Snapdragon 630 octa-core processor paired with 3GB of RAM, 32GB of storage (with expandable storage), and a 3,000 mAh battery. It ships with Android Nougat and a 5.2-inch 1080p IPS display, as well as USB-C and a headphone jack. Around back, there’s also a dual-camera setup, this time with a standard 12MP sensor and a secondary 8MP sensor with an LG-style 120-degree field of view. The front-facing shooter comes in at 16MP with a flash, and the entire package is IP68 water and dust resistant.
Internationally the Moto X4 ships with Motorola’s software suite on board, and it’s a great package with thoughtful additions. One of the latest exclusives to this phone, for now, is the ability to connect up to 4 Bluetooth audio devices at once for streaming audio from your phone.
In the US, however, the Moto X4 serves as the first Stateside Android One device, meaning that it will ship with stock Android if you’re buying it from/for Project Fi. The standard version without Motorola’s software will still be sold in the US, though, through outlets like Amazon. Pricing lands at a pretty reasonable $399 and you can order now from Project Fi. Alternatively, the phone is also available unlocked from Amazon, and sold at a discounted $329 as part of the Prime Exclusive program. If you want decent updates, though, the Android One variant is your best bet.
Sony Xperia XA2
Sony isn’t mentioned much in the United States, but its latest devices are worth a shout out. The Xperia XA2 and XA2 Ultra debuted at CES 2018 with one stand-out change, a refreshed design that finally delivered fingerprint sensors that work in the United States.Out of the box, the Xperia XA2 family runs on top of Android Oreo and packs some decent specifications such as the Snapdragon 630 chipset, 3GB of RAM, and 32GB of storage.
Sony’s 23MP camera sensor supports 4K recording and 120fps slow-motion video, and there’s also a 16MP front-facing wide-angle camera (with OIS on the Ultra) as well.
Further, there are some pretty big batteries in these phones. The smaller Xperia XA2 with its 5.2-inch FHD display has a 3,300 mAh battery. The XA2 Ultra with its larger 6-inch 1080p display packs an even bigger battery, now at 3,580 mAh.
Both phones are available in black, blue, silver, and gold. Pricing starts at $349 for the XA2 and jumps up to $449 for the Ultra. Orders are open now at Best Buy.
Alcatel 3V
Alcatel is no stranger to inexpensive devices, and the company is just continually getting better at making them. This year, one of the most intriguing smartphones Alcatel has to offer is the Alcatel 3V. This $150 Android smartphone is pretty standard when it comes to specs, but it wraps them up in a good-looking device that you don’t often find at this price point.Under the hood, the Alcatel 3V is powered by a MediaTek MT8735A processor which is paired with 2GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage. There’s also microSD support and a sizable 3,000 mAh battery which, unfortunately, charges over microUSB.
The main attraction here is the design. Alcatel has gone for a design similar to what we’ve been seeing with flagship devices including the reflective back, 2.5D curved glass around the display, and a taller 18:9 aspect ratio with slim bezels. The display itself measures in at 6-inches and is a 1080p panel which you don’t often see at this price point.
On the software side, the phone comes with Android Oreo with Alcatel’s fairly light skin. The company even built in a Face Unlock option using the 5MP front-facing camera.
Speaking of cameras, the Alcatel 3V offers a dual-camera setup on the back comprised of a 12MP sensor with a 5MP sensor for depth (used for portrait mode). You’ll also find an LED flash on the back and the front of the phone.
As mentioned, the Alcatel 3V costs $149 and is available now from retailers such as Amazon for use on GSM carriers.
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