What are the best Android phones of 2017? We’ve reviewed all of the biggest Android mobiles that you can buy right now in the UK and the following smartphones are our favourites so far.
Android phones come in all shapes and sizes, not to mention cater for all tastes and budgets. From great-value mobiles such as the Moto G family, to the mightiest flagship smartphones from Samsung and Sony, you really can find the perfect Android device to cater for your personal tastes.
In 2017 we’ve already seen the launch of some massive new Android handsets, including the new Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus which sport some seriously slick design. Sony has launched the world’s first mobile rocking a 4K HDR screen in the Xperia XZ Premium, while LG’s G6 also offers HDR visuals for enjoying movies on the move.
But what are the best Android phones to buy in 2017, no matter what your cut-off price? We’ve rounded up our favourite Android mobiles which we’ve already reviewed to help you narrow your search. And if you’re looking to the future, check out our guide to the best phones coming soon in 2017.
Samsung Galaxy S8
If we had to marry (or simply snog) a single smartphone, we’d choose the Galaxy S8. Samsung’s big flagship phone for 2017 is simply stunning, boasting a mighty 5.8-inch display that curves delightfully around the device’s edges and nearly fills its front. The result is a sizzling hot media machine that is surprisingly easy to handle.
Of course, it’s not just about that gorgeous design work or the crisp and vibrant screen. The S8 sports a reworked version of Android Nougat that boasts some great built-in features, as well as one of the very best mobile cameras of all time.
Check out our full Samsung Galaxy S8 review for more info and take a look at our pick of the best Samsung phones 2017.
Moto G5
Motorola’s Moto G4 was one of the best value phones released in 2016, thanks to its impressive hardware and sub-£200 asking price. This year’s Moto G5 continues that tradition with a thankfully more compact design that’s now rocking premium metal materials, as well as updated specs all across the board.
Motorola really impressed us with the Moto G5’s excellent 13-megapixel camera, easily one of the very best Android snappers to be found at this price point. You get a fingerprint security for improved security and a more vibrant Full HD screen that’s bound to satisfy media fans. And as if that all wasn’t enough, the Moto G5 is also one of the few Android phones to offer customisable design (via the online Moto Maker service).
Check out our full Moto G5 review
Moto G5 Plus
As if one new Moto G phone in 2017 wasn’t enough, the Moto G5 Plus was also launched at the same time, offering up even better specs. You get some of the same camera tech as the mighty Samsung Galaxy S8, including Dual Pixel autofocus and a f/1.7 aperture lens. And you also get better performance, for true future-proofing on a tight budget.
At £199, the Moto G4 Plus really is one of the best Android phones you’ll find on a budget. Check out our Moto G5 Plus review and other features over at our Moto G5 hub.
HTC U11
HTC impressed us with 2016’s HTC 10 flagship mobile. This handset didn’t boast any particularly exciting exclusive or innovative features, instead concentrating on getting the basics right. And with its brilliant camera, gorgeous screen and highly satisfying user experience, it certainly succeeded.
With its latest flagship device, the HTC U11, the mobile manufacturer has gone for a very different approach. The HTC U11 refreshes pretty much every aspect of previous mobiles, offering a complete redesign inside and out. From that sleek glass frame to the even more impressive premium camera tech, as well as unique features like Edge Sense and the new assistant, the U11 is the flagship phone that fans demanded.
Read our full HTC U11 review if you want to know more.
LG G6
LG decided to do away with modular functionality and all that jazz, which came built into last year’s LG G5 handset. Instead, the LG G6 offers up some truly awesome tech for media lovers, including the world’s first Dolby Vision mobile screen. This QHD+ panel boasts a super-crisp resolution, stretched aspect ratio and of course full HDR support, which means gorgeous lifelike visuals from the likes of Netflix and Amazon Prime Video.
The result is a five-star slab of brilliance and one of the best Android phones you can buy in 2017. That funky dual-lens camera, solid performance and a chunky, cheerful metallic design are just the icing on the cake.
Check out our full LG G6 review
Sony Xperia XZ Premium
Say hello to the world’s first 4K HDR phone.
For most people, the Xperia XZ Premium’s headline features (i.e. its incredible screen and that jaw-dropping Super Slow Motion camera mode) will be completely superfluous. Of course, even without those signature additions, the Premium is a truly solid top-tier flagship that more than lives up to its name.
The XZ Premium’s camera provides a fantastic means of capturing your everyday world, even if you never touch Super Slow Mo. You get long battery life, super-smooth performance and plenty of great features, geared towards media lovers, gamers and beyond.
Head on over to our full Sony Xperia XZ Premium review for all you need to know.
Sony Xperia XZ
After dallying with lots of affordable smartphones, Sony went all-out with the Xperia XZ flagship handset. This Android mobile sees Sony firmly back in premium phone territory. You get an updated 23-megapixel camera with some clever optical image stabilisation, a powerful Snapdragon 821 processor, full water resistance and the usual awesome Sony features including support for HD audio playback and PS4 game streaming.
All of that is wrapped in the slick-looking Sony framework, although admittedly that surfacing scratches rather easily. You’ll want to slip the Xperia XZ into some kind of case, to keep it looking fresh.
Check out our full Sony Xperia XZ review
OnePlus 5
If you’re after a flagship Android phone but you don’t have buckets of cash to spare, the OnePlus 5 is one of your best choices right now in 2017.
This £450 mobile is one of the best smartphones money can buy, boasting a solid dual lens camera that’s a strong rival to any other mobile snappers out there. Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 835 processor makes it a proper powerhouse, backed by a generous 6 to 8GB of memory.
You also get the super-fast ‘Dash Charge’ battery charging tech, a remarkably fast and responsive fingerprint sensor and plenty of other premium features.
Take a wander over to our OnePlus 5 review for all you need to know, while the OnePlus hub is filled with our guides and in-depth features.
Honor 9
While we really like the Huawei P10 for its solid hardware and user-friendly software, we really can’t get behind that crazy £599 asking price. Thankfully, the P10 has pretty much been restyled and repackaged as the Honor 9 handset, which can be grabbed for just £380 here in the UK.
The Honor 9 sports a slick curved and glossy frame as well as pleasingly premium specs. That dual-lens camera isn’t completely perfect, although it does churn out good-looking snaps in most conditions. You get an eye-pleasing Full HD screen, expandable storage and great performance and battery life. All for much less than the cost of standard flagships.
Take a look at our thoughts on the Honor 9.
Honor 8 Pro
Towards the end of 2016, Huawei’s funky and youthful Honor brand launched the Honor 8 which boasted sleek design and premium specs for just £399 (not too dissimilar to the OnePlus 3T). At the time we thought it was one of the best Android phones to pick up for well under £500, but six months on we have a new updated model. The Honor 8 Pro doesn’t just boast a boost in specs, however. This 5.7-inch mobile is a super-sized version too, offering crisp Quad HD visuals for media lovers.
Good news for VR fans too, as the box actually converts into a Google Cardboard style set of VR goggles. Nifty.
Check out our in-depth Honor 8 Pro review
Samsung Galaxy S7
One of the best Android phones you can buy in 2017 is undoubtedly still the Samsung Galaxy S7. This gorgeous handset may not look massively different to the Galaxy S6 and is now a year old, but the new curves make it even more comfortable to clutch, while there are plenty of other little tweaks. For one, the Galaxy S7 boasts one of the very best mobile phone cameras we’ve ever had the pleasure to play with, taking amazing photos in almost any conditions.
That said, if you already own the Galaxy S6, you might not want to jump on the upgrade bandwagon. Take a look at our Galaxy S7 vs Galaxy S6 comparison review to find out more.
Check out our full Samsung Galaxy S7 review
Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge
The Galaxy S7 Edge offers pretty much identical specs to the standard Galaxy S7, but you get a bigger 5.5-inch screen that’s absolutely spiffing for enjoying media on the move. It’s an even better and more immersive way to take in mobile VR experiences, via Samsung’s Gear VR headset.
Not just that, but you also have Samsung’s super-slick Edge design to marvel at every time you check your messages. That screen stretches around the edges of the phone, for a truly stunning finish. Of course, the same design work adorns the new Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus, with tiny bezels for an even more impressive appearance.
Check out our Galaxy S7 Edge review
Google Nexus 6P
This all-metal masterpiece (made by Chinese company Huawei) boasts stunning performance and a killer screen for an all-round sensible price, slaying many other flagship Android phones when it comes to value for money. We love the gorgeous and rather stand-out design, which feels great in the hand thanks to those perfectly-formed curves. But there’s plenty to enjoy on the inside too.
Android appears in a gloriously vanilla form, with no clunky overlays sat on top. The camera tech is brilliant too, shooting crisp and clean photos across a range of conditions, while you can also expect some pleasingly smooth performance.